Eleventh International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Energy drinks (ED) are beverages with high amounts of caffeine and other stimulants especially aimed at young people. Previous research suggests that their effects on health of adolescents are risky. The main purpose of this study was to validate a questionnaire to determine patterns of energy drinks consumption in adolescents. Cross sectional designs of students (n=45) aged between 16-17 years old attending public school in México. To validate, a panel of experts in nutrition conducted all elements. To estimate agreement in the evaluation inter-judges of questionnaire the Kappa coefficient of Cohen and Fleis was used, which is moderate - high. In a total of adolescents studied (mean age 16years; 57.8% females) reported to have used energy drinks at least once. Only 26.7% of adolescents (n-12) reported that they had never consumed and the age of onset of ED consumption was between 13-15 years 15.6%, 10-12 years 17.8%, 24.4% after age 15. The current average ED consumption was: 24.4% 1 time per month, 4.4% 1-3 time per month and 4-6 times per week and 2.2% daily once. Developed questionnaire is specific, and allows a considerable distinction in that the subjects define the frequency of their consumption by reliable measures in retrospective form and standardized self-report for the adolescents. There is significant correlation between the beverages with taurine consumption and physical effects such as tremors and chest pain, in addition, a significant correlation of effects such as fatigue, insomnia, excessive urination, and lack of rest with caffeinated beverages.