Are Sports or Energy Drinks Ever OK for Kids?

When it comes to keeping your child hydrated, there are a number of options to choose from. But are sports drinks or energy drinks ever the right choice?

Sports Drinks

Let’s start with sports drinks. If you read food labels, you might be shocked to learn that these drinks contain as much as 50 grams of added sugar in an 8-ounce serving. That’s the equivalent of over 12 teaspoons of sugar in a single cup!

Experts recommend that we consume no more than 25 grams of added sugar a day. So you can see how a 12-ounce sports drink (the smallest size most of these drinks come in) can put you way over that guideline. That’s a whopping 75 grams of sugar.

Why is so much sugar so bad? There’s a lot of scientific evidence about how sugar harms kids. It contributes to weight gain and obesity, which in turn can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other medical problems. It also boosts the risk of cavities.

And it’s not just the sugar that’s unhealthy. Some sports drinks may contain additives and colorings that we’re better off avoiding.

The bottom line on sports drinks: Kids playing sports really don’t need any more hydration than plain old water provides. I encourage parents to offer water to their children early in life and often. Limit their consumption of juice, which can cultivate a taste for sweet beverages from the get-go.

Energy Drinks

So-called energy drinks pose other health risks. These products contain caffeine in amounts four to five times greater than what’s in a cup of coffee — delivering a jolt of a drug (yes, caffeine is a drug!) that young bodies simply are not equipped to handle.

When kids ingest caffeine, it can cause such adverse reactions as a racing heartbeat (possibly triggering an arrhythmia — a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm disorder), irritability, jittery feelings, mood swings, and trouble sleeping.

In fact, we’re seeing an increasing amount of sleep deprivation among preteens and teens today. Often, they are turning to these caffeine-heavy drinks to help them get through the day. This, in turn, contributes to nighttime sleep problems, especially if they’re consuming these energy drinks later in the day, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Lack of sleep causes irritability, increased stress, forgetfulness, learning difficulties and reduced motivation. Over time, it also can contribute to anxiety and depression.

I believe that all of us — parents, teachers and pediatricians — must work harder to promote healthy sleep habits in children. So instead of relying on caffeine to mask the effects of sleep deprivation, kids will get the good night’s sleep their growing bodies need.

The bottom line on energy drinks: There’s never a reason for kids to consume caffeine-laden energy drinks. Period.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s consumption of sports or energy drinks or sleep habits, be sure to talk to their pediatrician.

This blog post is part of our Simply Women initiative that caters to the unique health care needs of women and their families.

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Guest Blogger: Jennifer Bram, MD, Medical Director, South County Pediatrics; Medical Director, Good Fit Adolescent Weight and Wellness Center