Researchers from Bournemouth University reviewed findings from multiple earlier studies to look for patterns connecting what teenagers drink and their mental health. The results, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, focused on sugary drinks—fizzy sodas, energy drinks, sweetened juices, squashes, and flavored milks—and their association with anxiety symptoms in young people.
The study matters because anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges among teenagers today, yet most public health efforts have focused only on physical risks like obesity and type-2 diabetes, leaving the mental health angle largely unexplored.
The consistent pattern: more sugary drinks, more anxiety symptoms
Across all the research analyzed, the findings pointed the same way. Teenagers who consumed more sugary beverages consistently reported more anxiety symptoms than those who drank less. This held across different groups of young people studied, suggesting the connection is not a one-off finding.
It's a link, not proof of cause and effect
The researchers are clear about an important limitation: this review cannot prove that sugary drinks directly cause anxiety. Because the studies relied on surveys asking teenagers about what they drink and how they feel, researchers cannot determine which came first. It's possible that teenagers already experiencing anxiety reach for sugary drinks more often. Other factors—such as sleep problems or family stress—could contribute to both higher sugar consumption and anxiety symptoms.
Why this matters for your teen's habits
Anxiety disorders in adolescents have risen sharply in recent years. While this study doesn't prove causation, the consistent link between sugary drinks and anxiety symptoms is clear enough to warrant attention. Given that sugary drink consumption is a habit parents and teenagers can actually change, it's worth considering as one of several lifestyle factors that might influence your teen's mental wellbeing.
- Reduce your teen's intake of sugary drinks—sodas, energy drinks, and sweetened juices—and offer water or unsweetened alternatives instead.
- If your teen regularly drinks sugary beverages and shows signs of anxiety, reduce intake gradually as one part of a broader conversation about their wellbeing.
- Monitor whether changes in drink choices coincide with changes in mood, though remember other factors like sleep and stress matter too.