Researchers from Bournemouth University (UK) have concluded that regular consumption of sugary drinks may be associated with an increased risk of developing anxiety disorders in adolescents aged 10 to 19.
This is reported by the ScienceAlert with reference to Chloe Casey, a lecturer in healthy and proper nutrition at Bournemouth University. According to her, the problem of anxiety disorders among young people in the UK is extremely urgent.
As Chloe Casey points out, anxiety disorders are now diagnosed in around one in five teenagers in the UK. The condition can have a significant impact on young people's social lives, academic performance and general well-being. Furthermore, mental health difficulties that arise in adolescence often persist into adulthood.
The expert emphasizes the need to control the consumption of so-called "free sugar." British doctors recommend that its share should be no more than 5% of the total daily calorie intake for people of all age groups.
At the same time, according to researchers, it is teenagers who consume the largest amount of "free sugar" among all age groups - sometimes up to 20% of their total daily energy. A significant part of this sugar enters the body from sweet carbonated drinks and sweetened juices.
The researchers emphasize that this is a possible link that needs further research, but they urge parents and teens to be more mindful of their eating habits and limit their consumption of sugary drinks.
