The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new guidelines on the use of sports and energy drinks in children. The guidelines do not seem to me to be anything new; however, they do highlight some very important facts that we try to tell our patients.

  1. Energy drinks are not safe in children due primarily to the stimulants in them and should never be used, even in adolescents.
  2. Sports drinks may be useful in sports and other vigorous physical activity when used properly along with water; however, they should not be used by children in general. They contain too many calories and can lead to overweight and obesity. They are also not good for the teeth. They should not be consumed on a regular basis.
  3. Parents and children need to understand the difference between energy and sports drinks and the potential health risks to each.

I tell my patients and their parents that drinking sports drinks is really no different than drinking sodas in terms of sugar and calories, and they are just as unhealthy. Sports drinks are not a healthy alternative to water, milk, and other liquids. I have not routinely advised my adolescent patients to avoid energy drinks, but perhaps I should. I do not know how often they are used by teens in my practice; the report notes that in one (very small) study, about 40% of teens had used energy drinks in the past two weeks. It may be time to add it to my list of advice to teens and their parents.

As an aside, the report also suggests that pediatricians counsel and educate parents and children about this issue as part of the yearly checkup. There are already an overwhelming number of things that it is recommended we cover during the yearly physical. The list is very long now and covering everything would turn into a rather lengthy lecture. It is unlikely that children and parents have the attention span or desire to endure a lecture about all the things that pertain to their health in one sitting. All of the information could not be absorbed at one time anyway. Furthermore, the way insurance companies pay doctors limits the amount of time doctors can spend with each patient, and there is not enough time anymore at annual physicals to cover all of the information.  Children, especially teens, and their parents have to and should take an active role in their health and find health information from reputable sources. We strive to provide information like this advice on energy and sports drinks on our website and in our handouts and booklets. Hopefully, this will be effective in improving the lives and health of children.