Shirin Ghaffary weighs the potential health risks of drinking energy drinks, and compares them to other sugary, caffeinated beverages. What do you think — should the U.S. ban energy drinks for minors?
SUBSCRIBE to Above the Noise: https://www.youtube.com/abovethenoise…
ABOVE THE NOISE is a show that cuts through the hype and takes a deeper look at the research behind issues that affect you. Hosted by Myles Bess and Shirin Ghaffary.
*NEW VIDEOS EVERY WEDNESDAY*
We’ve all been there– needing to stay awake, but our body refusing to cooperate. We hear they are bad for us, but sometimes we reach for energy drinks like Redbull, Monster, and Rockstar to help us out. Or maybe we drink them just because we like the boost it gives us, or we simply like the taste. Whatever the reason, energy drinks are a billion dollar industry and their popularity keeps growing despite health concerns. We are warned they are particularly dangerous for children and teens– and there’s even been reports of deaths linked to energy drink consumption.
In fact, in 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics, an organization of 60,000 pediatricians recommended kids and teens should never drink energy drinks. In 2013, the American Medical Association got involved and called for a ban in advertising energy drinks to people under 18. And some people want to take this further and actually ban the sale of energy drinks to minors. In fact, Lithuania was the first country to enact such a ban. In response to these health concerns, the American Beverage Association, the trade group that represents many of the energy drink brands, have created their own guidelines around marketing and labeling of the drinks. For example they do not market these drinks to children under 12 and they don’t sell them in K-12 schools.
In this video we take a closer look at the science to see if energy drinks are really as bad as the hype, and what it is about them that has doctors concerned.
To join the conversation, visit KQED Learning’s blog for students called Do Now: https://ww2.kqed.org/learning/categor…
Sources:
Clinical Report—Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate?
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/05/25/peds.2011-0965.full.pdf+html
Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/127/3/511.full.pdf
ABA Guidance for the Responsible Labeling and Marketing of Energy Drinks
http://www.ameribev.org/files/resources/2014-energy-drinks-guidance–approved-by-bod-43020.pdf
The Buzz on Energy Drinks (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/energy.htm
Music Courtesy of:
Getty Images Music
Oh Hoity – Toity Are We by Mini Roc/ Free Music Archive
Check out some of our other videos:
Can social status affect your health?
https://goo.gl/Eb81fg
Follow KQED:
KQED: http://www.kqed.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KQED/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KQED?lang=en
Teachers follow KQED Learning
KQED Learning: https://ww2.kqed.org/learning/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KQEDLearning/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KQEDedspace?lang=en
About KQED
KQED, an NPR and PBS affiliate in San Francisco, CA, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, Radio and web media.
Funding for Above the Noise is provided in part by S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, David Bulfer and Kelly Pope, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, The Koret Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Smart Family Foundation, The Vadasz Family Foundation and the members of KQED.
