Consumption, Knowledge and Opinions of Exercisers and Athletes About Energy Drinks. A Public Health Perspective

Abstract

The energy drinks are beverages that contain caffeine and are consumed by students, children, adolescents and young adults to enhance their athletic and cognitive performance. Significant adverse effects have been reported. They vary from mild symptoms to death. The present study attempts to assess the risk of using energy drinks by exercisers and athletes. In order to achieve this, we evaluate the consumption and knowledge level of the consumers. The lack of awareness can lead to dangerous practices. Views on appropriate public health protection measures are also being investigated. The grade of consumption (35.5%) is within the bounds of the literature. The main source of knowledge is the advertisement (69.2%), which does not guarantee objective information. Therefore, although exercisers and athletes believe that they have adequate knowledge on the subject (91.2%), in fact this is not the case (the knowledge score is 10.12/18). Thus, half of them consume concurrently energy drinks with alcohol (a perilous practice). The study emphasizes the need of taking measures for public health protection.