
Sugary Drinks Linked to Higher Anxiety Risk in Teens, Study Finds
A review of nine observational studies (ages 10–19) finds seven showing a link between higher sugary drink intake and increased anxiety among adolescents; teens with high consumption had about 34% higher odds of an anxiety disorder, though causality can’t be established and reverse effects or confounders may play a role. The findings suggest reducing sugary drink intake could support teen mental health; guidelines caution limiting free sugars to about 5% of daily calories, and practical swaps include water or unsweetened beverages, with energy drinks potentially harming sleep and behavior.



