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Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate? Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness Pediatrics 2011;127;1182; originally published online May 29, 2011; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-0965

The online version of this article, along with updated information and services, is located on the World Wide Web at:http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/6/1182.full.html

PEDIATRICS is the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A monthly publication, it has been published continuously since 1948. PEDIATRICS is owned, published, and trademarked by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, 60007. Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Allrights reserved. Print ISSN: 0031-4005. Online ISSN: 1098-4275.

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Guidance for the Clinician in Rendering Pediatric Care

Clinical Report–Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate? abstract
Sports and energy drinks are being marketed to children and adolescents for a widevariety of inappropriate uses. Sports drinks and energy drinks are significantly different products, and the terms should not be used interchangeably. The primary objectives of this clinical report are to define the ingredients of sports and energy drinks, categorize the similarities and differences between the products, and discuss misuses and abuses. Secondary objectives are to encourage screeningduring annual physical examinations for sports and energy drink use, to understand the reasons why youth consumption is widespread, and to improve education aimed at decreasing or eliminating the inappropriate use of these beverages by children and adolescents. Rigorous review and analysis of the literature reveal that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no placein the diet of children and adolescents. Furthermore, frequent or excessive intake of caloric sports drinks can substantially increase the risk for overweight or obesity in children and adolescents. Discussion regarding the appropriate use of sports drinks in the youth athlete who participates regularly in endurance or high-intensity sports and vigorous physical activity is beyond the scope ofthis report. Pediatrics 2011;127:1182–1189
COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION AND THE COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS
KEY WORDS sport drinks, energy drinks, obesity, caffeine This document is copyrighted and is property of the American Academy of Pediatrics and its Board of Directors. All authors have filed conflict of interest statements with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Any conflicts have beenresolved through a process approved by the Board of Directors. The American Academy of Pediatrics has neither solicited nor accepted any commercial involvement in the development of the content of this publication. The guidance in this report does not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or serve as a standard of medical care. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may beappropriate.

www.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2011-0965 doi:10.1542/peds.2011-0965

Sports and energy drinks are a large and growing beverage industry now marketed to children and adolescents for a variety of uses. Marketing strategies for sports drinks suggest optimization of athletic performance and replacement of fluid and electrolytes lost in sweat during and after exercise, andmarketing strategies for energy drinks purport a boost in energy, decreased fatigue, enhanced concentration, and mental alertness. Sports drinks are different products than energy drinks; therefore, the terms should not be used interchangeably. Sports drinks are flavored beverages that often contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes (eg, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium), and sometimes...