Ryan said the high levels of “free sugars” – sugars that release energy quickly – and caffeine in energy drinks have a knock-on effect on health.
“If you have a really high-sugar diet, particularly free sugars, that is going to hugely increase your chances of being overweight or obese.
“That consequently, over the life course, has associations with not just physiological health issues, but also mental health issues, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, a whole host of measures, high blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack. A litany of long-term potential impacts,” he said.
The government is planning a new law in England to stop anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and Prime from shops, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and online following pressure from concerned parents.
Speaking about Bradford teenagers’ attitudes to breakfast, Ryan said: “Female students might be more likely to report avoiding breakfast as a strategy to kind of manage weight or to keep to a lower caloric intake as a means to try and kind of keep their weight at the level they want.
“What the research actually pulls out is that skipping breakfast is associated with increased weight. So often people who skip breakfast end up having a higher BMI than those who don’t.
“If you skip breakfast and then you’re really hungry, you’re more likely to make impulsive choices, grab something quick at a counter, something that’s eye-catching, which often can be the kind of less favourable food and drink options.”
