News
Survey analyses children's consumption of sports drinks
29 Jun 2016A survey by Cardiff University School of Dentistry looked at 160 children in four schools across South Wales and concluded that children are attracted to sports drinks because of their sweet taste, low price, and availability.
![Survey analyses children's consumption of sports drinks](/img/ingnet-logo.png)
Published in the British Dental Journal, a survey by Cardiff University School of Dentistry looked at 160 children in four schools across South Wales and concluded that children are attracted to sports drinks because of their sweet taste, low price, and availability, with most parents and children not aware that sports drinks are not intended for consumption by children.
Half of the children surveyed claimed to drink sports drinks socially and most (80%) purchased them in local shops. The majority (90%) also claimed that taste was a factor and only 18% claimed to drink them because of the perceived performance enhancing effect. Price was one of the top three recorded reasons for purchase and, of particular concern, 26% of children also cited leisure centres as purchase sources.“The purpose of sports drinks are being misunderstood and this study clearly shows evidence of high school age children being attracted to these high sugar and low pH level drinks, leading to an increased risk of dental cavities, enamel erosion and obesity,” said Maria Morgan, Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health at Cardiff University. “Dental health professionals should be aware of the popularity of sports drinks with children when giving health education or advice or designing health promotion initiatives.”The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) is calling for tighter regulation around the price, availability and marketing of sports drinks to children, especially surrounding the school area, to safeguard general and dental health.“The proportion of children in this study who consume high carbohydrate drinks, which are designed for sport, in a recreational non-sporting context is of concern,” said Dr Paul D Jackson, President of the FSEM. “Sports drinks are intended for athletes taking part in endurance and intense sporting events. They are also connected with tooth decay in athletes and should be used following the advice of dental and healthcare teams dedicated to looking after athletes. Water or milk is sufficient enough to hydrate active children, high sugar sports drinks are unnecessary for children and most adults.”“The rise of sports drinks as just another soft drink option among children is a real cause for concern, and both parents and government must take note,” said Russ Ladwa, chair of the British Dental Association's Health and Science Committee. “They are laden with acids and sugars, and could be behind the decay problems we’re now seeing among top footballers.”“Sports drinks are rarely a healthy choice, and marketing them to the general population, and young people in particular, is grossly irresponsible. Elite athletes might have reason to use them, but for almost everyone else they represent a real risk to both their oral and their general health.”The survey also concluded that there is particular confusion over the definition of a sports versus an energy drink. However, from a dental and wider health perspective, these two drinks have similar detrimental effects due to their high sugar content and low pH.Related news
![Could Mexico’s salt-cutting measures extend to reformulation?](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/47/45/th124745.png)
Could Mexico’s salt-cutting measures extend to reformulation?
25 Jun 2024
Mexico’s consumer watchdog has called on food industry to reduce salt in processed products available in the country to reduce cardiovascular diseases.
Read more![Will ASEAN harmonise food marketing rules for children?](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/47/17/th124717.png)
Will ASEAN harmonise food marketing rules for children?
21 Jun 2024
ASEAN Health Ministries and UNICEF release new guidelines on how food and beverage brands should market their products to children to protect them from harm.
Read more![Food scientists uncover new way to preserve nutrient and flavour quality](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/45/35/th124535.png)
Food scientists uncover new way to preserve nutrient and flavour quality
29 May 2024
Researchers have developed a method that guarantees food safety for low-moisture products, such as dried milk, while maximising quality by retaining vitamins, minerals, and flavours, they say.
Read more![Gatorade turns on the tap, introducing alkaline water to its latest product offerings](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/43/14/th124314.png)
Gatorade turns on the tap, introducing alkaline water to its latest product offerings
10 May 2024
PepsiCo’s Gatorade has diversified its product portfolio, launching unflavoured alkaline water and energy drink mixes.
Read more![Plant-based marketing 101: How to create a standout plant-based dairy product](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/42/32/th124232.png)
Plant-based marketing 101: How to create a standout plant-based dairy product
30 Apr 2024
Aurore de Monclin from HMT, the marketing firm that helped rebrand Oatly, shares her tips to create a plant-based dairy brand that stands out from the crowd.
Read more![Balenti adds the benefits of baobab to functional nut butters](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/41/94/th124194.png)
Balenti adds the benefits of baobab to functional nut butters
19 Apr 2024
French startup Balenti uses sustainably sourced, wild-harvested baobab fruit to make its healthy nut butters with functional benefits.
Read more![US legislative push to ban 7 food additives in schools](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/42/04/th124204.png)
US legislative push to ban 7 food additives in schools
17 Apr 2024
Proposed legislation would prohibit the use of seven additives – six artificial colours and titanium dioxide – in food and drink served in US state schools.
Read more![Portugal officially adopts NutriScore](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/41/57/th124157.png)
Portugal officially adopts NutriScore
10 Apr 2024
Portugal has adopted the NutriScore as its official – but voluntary – front-of-pack nutrition label to promote healthy eating, with researchers calling this “a great victory for science and public health”.
Read more![R3PACK Consortium backs BPA ban](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/41/14/th124114.png)
R3PACK Consortium backs BPA ban
9 Apr 2024
The EU-funded research project, R3PACK, urges a ban on Bisphenol A (BPA) and calls for rigorous rules, promoting transparency and prioritising health and the environment.
Read more![Ultra-processed food intake in South Africa at concerning levels, study suggests](/47/pdcnewsitem/12/39/42/th123942.png)
Ultra-processed food intake in South Africa at concerning levels, study suggests
19 Mar 2024
As South Africa considers introducing front-of-pack warning labels and strict marketing limits for unhealthy foods, research has found that low-income South Africans get around half of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – “a cause for con...
Read more