A quarter of parents report that caffeine is basically part of their teen's daily life, according to a national poll. Two in three parents think they know whether their teen's caffeine intake is appropriate and which products have too much caffeine. Yet a third aren't able to identify recommended caffeine limits, according to the University of Michigan Health C.
S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health. Our report suggests parents may not always be aware of how much they should be limiting caffeine consumption for teens.
Even for parents who know the recommendations, estimating their teen's caffeine intake can be challenging." Susan Woolford, M.D.
, poll co-director and Mott pediatrician Soda is teens' top caffeinated product of choice, according to the nationally representative report that's based on responses from 1,095 parents of teens polled in February. Tea and coffee came in as the second most popular caffeine source while less than a fourth of parents said their teen consumed energy drinks. "Caffeine is a drug that stimulates the brain and nervous system, and too much of it can contribute to a variety of health problems in young people," Woolford said.
"Teens' brains are still developing, and excessive caffeine consumption can affect their mood, sleep, and school performance, along with other side effects. They can also become dependent over time, as is true for other drugs." Two in five parents whose teens consume caffeine most or all days of the w.
