Anxiety has become an increasingly common part of teenage life. Across classrooms and households, concerns about young people’s mental wellbeing are growing.
As experts search for contributing factors, attention is turning toward everyday habits. One of them may be sitting in plain sight: the drinks many teenagers consume daily.
A large review led by researchers at Bournemouth University suggests adolescents who regularly consume high-sugar beverages are more likely to report symptoms associated with anxiety. The findings were published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
Rising concern
Recent estimates show that roughly one in five children and adolescents were living with a mental health disorder in 2023, with anxiety among the most frequently reported issues.
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The research team analyzed previously published survey studies that measured both beverage intake and psychological symptoms.
By combining results from multiple youth populations, they assessed whether similar patterns appeared across different settings.
Teenagers with higher consumption of sugary drinks consistently showed greater reporting of anxiety-related symptoms.
What it means
The drinks included carbonated soft drinks, energy beverages, sweetened dairy drinks and other high-sugar refreshments.
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Because the review relied on observational data, it cannot determine whether sugar intake directly causes anxiety.
It remains possible that anxious teens consume more sweetened drinks, or that other factors such as sleep or home environment influence both.
Dr. Chloe Casey, Lecturer in Nutrition and co-author, said: "With increasing concern about adolescent nutrition, most public health initiatives have emphasized the physical consequences of poor dietary habits, such as obesity and type-2 diabetes.
However, the mental health implications of diet have been underexplored by comparison, particularly for drinks that are energy dense but low in nutrients.
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Sources: Science Daily and Wiley
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