Korean J Health Promot > Volume 19(3); 2019 > Article
Oh and Chung: Energy Drink Consumption and Dietary-, Lifestyle-, and Mental Health-Related Behaviors in Korean Adolescents: Based on the 10th–13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey

ABSTRACT

Background

Energy drinks (EDs), functional beverages with high concentrations of caffeine, can cause health risks. This study examined the frequency of ED consumption and related factors in Korean adolescents.

Methods

Data from the 10th-13th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey was used, and a total of 137,101 boys and 130,806 girls were included in the final analyses. Differences in ED consumption and associated factors were analyzed using the Rao-Scott chi-square test and a multivariate logistic regression analysis, reflecting of the complex sample design.

Results

In total, 17.3% boys and 12.9% girls consumed EDs more than once a week (P<0.001). In particular, 24.2% of all high-school students in the 12th grade consumed more than three EDs a week. After adjusting for confounding factors, a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that higher ED consumption was significantly associated with a higher soda, sweet-drink, and fast food intake; skipping breakfast; a lower vegetable intake; depression; suicidal thoughts; sleep deprivation; and increased smoking and alcohol drinking.

Conclusions

ED consumption is associated with undesirable dietary-, lifestyle-, and mental health-related behaviors, suggesting the need for appropriate nutrition education in adolescents.

This report was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government, NRF-2017R1A2B1009697.

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Figure 1

The distribution of energy drink consumption frequency in boys and girls. Differences between boys and girls were significantly different (P<0.001), calculated by Rao-Scott chi-square test.

kjhp-19-145-g001.jpg
Table 1

General characteristics of study subjects by gender

kjhp-19-145-i001.jpg

Values are presented as mean±standard error or number (%).

aTotal numbers of some variables are different due to missing values.

bCalculated by generalized linear model (GLM) for continuous variables or by Rao-Scott chi-square test for categorical variables.

Table 2

General characteristics according to energy drink consumption in boys and girlsa

kjhp-19-145-i002.jpg

Values are presented as mean±standard error or number (%).

aDifferences between general characteristics and energy drink consumption in boys and girls were calculated by generalized linear model (GLM) for continuous variables and by Rao-Scott chi-square test for categorical variables, and all P values were less than 0.001, except for that of residential area in girls (P=0.001).

Table 3

Association between energy drink consumption and dietary- or lifestyle-related behavior in boys and girls

kjhp-19-145-i003.jpg

Values are presented as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Abbreviation: ref., reference.

aDependent variables: fruit intake ≥3 vs. <3 times/wk (ref.); vegetables intake ≥1 vs. <1 time/d (ref.); milk intake ≥5 vs. <5 times/wk (ref.); soda intake ≥3 vs. <3 times/wk (ref.); sweet-drink intake ≥3 vs. <3 times/wk (ref.); fast food intake ≥1 vs. <1 time/wk (ref.); skipping breakfast ≥3 vs. <3 days/wk (ref.); underweight vs. normal weight (ref.); overweight and obesity vs. normal weight (ref.); smoking yes vs. no (ref.); drinking yes vs. no (ref.); moderate exercise ≥5 vs. <5 times/wk (ref.); vigorous exercise ≥3 vs. <3 times/wk (ref.); and muscular exercise ≥3 vs. <3 times/wk (ref.).

bAdjusted for age, grade, academic achievement, paternal education, maternal education, economic status, residential area and residential type.

Table 4

Association between energy drink consumption and mental health-related behavior in boys and girls

kjhp-19-145-i004.jpg

Values are presented as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, calculated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Abbreviation: ref., reference.

aDependent variables: sleep hours ≥8 vs. <8 hours/d (ref.); sleep quality satisfactory vs. non-satisfactory (ref.); excessive stress yes vs. no (ref.); sadness or depression yes vs. no (ref.); suicide ideation yes vs. no (ref.); perceived health yes vs. no (ref.); perceived happiness yes vs. no (ref.).

bAdjusted for age, grade, academic achievement, paternal education, maternal education, economic status, residential area and residential type.



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