AUSTIN (KXAN) — Energy drinks are increasingly becoming the go-to solution for college students seeking a boost as the end of the semester draws near, according to Brittany Krim, a registered dietitian and University of Texas kinesiology professor. However, these beverages could pose more harm than aid to students’ well-being, several studies have shown.

“The research has either been a denying health outcome or a negative one,” Krim said. “So if it’s neutral or bad, I just tend to shy away from either of those outcomes.”
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Krim said it is important to use caution when it comes to energy drinks because of effects such as sleep disturbances.
The lack of sleep

Drinking energy drinks to stay alert was found to have sleep efficiency effects in a study earlier this year on college students in Norway. Those who drank energy drinks slept about a half hour less each night, compared to those who didn’t drink energy drinks or had them only occasionally, according to the research.

Students who drank energy drinks also took longer to fall asleep, according to the study, conducted by researchers at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the University of Oslo, Norway.

Keryn Pasch, a UT kinesiology and health education associate professor, has done research on energy drink consumption for more than 10 years. She said students should prioritize their sleep rather than stay up to study more. Pasch said getting good sleep can lead to a more successful academic career and an overall healthier lifestyle.
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“When you get good sleep, you don’t have to turn to energy drinks. You don’t have to turn to fast food,” Pasch said. “You can have more energy to do your day without these things.”

Pasch found in her last study on energy drinks that a lower GPA was associated with energy drink consumption. A total of 844 first-year undergraduates in 2016 participated in this study. Although this was not a cause-and-effect situation, she said this correlation shows that getting enough sleep can be far more effective than energy drinks.

“Energy drinks are not going to be a permanent solution. It’ll treat the symptoms for a moment,” Pasch said. “But it’s not going to treat the underlying issue that you’re not getting enough sleep.”
Other energy drink effects

Pasch said students who take energy drinks are more likely to binge drink as a whole. She said that students who binge drink also correlate with having an increase in alcohol consumption.

“They are able to use the energy drink to stay awake longer which allows you to drink more because you’re up longer,” Pasch said.