ISLAMABAD: Many so-called ‘energy’ drinks are on sale at schools and universities across Pakistan.
As a result, there is a dire need to inform healthcare professionals, parents and school administrations about the nutritional concerns regarding these soft drinks. Potential health problems associated with intake of sweetened, energy or fizzy drinks include: 1) overweight or obesity attributable to additional calories in the diet; 2) displacement of milk consumption, resulting in calcium deficiency with a risk of osteoporosis and fractures; and 3) dental cavities and potential enamel erosion.
The primary ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine and sugar, which can cause long-term health hazards to those who consume them, especially in large quantities over a period of time.
School officials and parents need to become better informed about the health implications of selling energy and fizzy drinks to their students. In educational institutions in much of the developed world, regulations are already in place so that only healthy drinks and juices are sold to students.
This is something that needs to be replicated in Pakistani educational institutions as well so that our future generations can be protected from the ill effects of energy and fizzy drinks.
Dr Irfan Zafar
Published in The Express Tribune, October 8th, 2012.
