Bold claim: high sugar in drinks is linked to anxiety symptoms among teenagers. A fresh analysis compiles findings from multiple studies to examine how what young people drink might relate to mental health. The team, including researchers from Bournemouth University, synthesized results from several investigations to identify shared patterns about diet and mental well-being. The study appears in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
Dr. Chloe Casey, a Nutrition Lecturer and co-author, notes that public health messages have largely focused on physical health risks like obesity and type 2 diabetes. She points out that the mental health implications of diet, especially for energy-dense but nutrient-poor beverages, have not been explored as thoroughly.
Anxiety disorders are a major source of distress for youths. In 2023, estimates suggested that about 20% of children and adolescents faced a mental health disorder, with anxiety among the most commonly reported conditions.
To gauge the relationship, the researchers looked at sugary drink consumption and mental health through survey data. Beverages high in sugar can include fizzy drinks, energy drinks, sweetened juices, cordials, sweetened tea or coffee, and flavored milks.
Across the studies, a consistent association emerged: higher intake of sugary drinks aligned with more anxiety symptoms.
Related readings offer broader context on mental health and lifestyle factors, such as how personality traits and social media use relate to anxiety, or how certain health information may provoke worry.
The researchers are careful to state that the reviewed studies do not prove causation. It is possible that anxiety symptoms drive some youths to consume more sugary drinks, or that other factors—like family environment or sleep problems—drive both increased sugar consumption and anxiety.
While a direct cause-and-effect link remains unconfirmed, the analysis highlights a noteworthy connection between sugary drink intake and anxiety disorders in young people.
Dr. Chloe Casey emphasizes that rising anxiety disorders in adolescence make it important to identify modifiable lifestyle habits that could help curb this trend.
This study was led by former Bournemouth University PhD student Dr Karim Khaled, who is now affiliated with the Lebanese American University in Beirut.
Source details:
Khaled, K., et al. (2026). Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jhn.70217.
