MONDAY, May 20, 2024 (HealthDay News) — (Tasrir) — A quarter of parents reported that caffeine is basically part of their teen’s daily life, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health released Monday.
Two out of three parents said they know whether their teen’s caffeine intake is appropriate, and which products contain too much caffeine, poll results say.
However, a third of parents weren’t able to identify the recommended caffeine limits for teens, researchers found after polling just over 1,000 U.S. parents in February.
“Our report suggests parents may not always be aware of how much they should be limiting caffeine consumption for teens,” said poll co-director and Mott pediatrician Dr. Susan Woolford. “Even for parents who know the recommendations, estimating their teen’s caffeine intake can be challenging.”
Most teens chose soda as their caffeine source, with tea and coffee coming in second, poll results found. Less than a quarter of parents said their teen consumes energy drinks.
Older teens are more often caffeine users. More parents of kids ages 16 to 18 years than parents of those ages 13 to 15 report their teen consumes coffee daily, the poll found.
“Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system, and too much of it can contribute to a variety of health problems in young people,” Woolford said in a university news release.
“Teens’ brains are still developing, and excessive caffeine consumption can affect their mood, sleep and school performance, along with other side effects,” Woolford added. “They can also become dependent over time, as is true for other drugs.”
Two out of five parents of teens who consume caffeine most of the week say it’s simply an ingredient in their kid’s favorite product. Less than a fourth say their kids are consuming caffeine because of their peers, and even fewer think it’s to help them stay awake or focus while studying.
“As parents appear to suggest that teens consume caffeine more for the taste than for the stimulant effect, it may be possible for parents to encourage the use of similar tasting options that are caffeine-free,” Woolford said. “But parents may not even be aware that kids are drinking several caffeinated drinks a day and how it’s adding up.”
Healthy adults can have about 400 milligrams of caffeine each day without any dangerous effects, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
