Energy Drinks: a Potentially Overlooked Obesity Correlate

Abstract

The term obesity refers to having too much body fat, rather than being overweight due to the presence of high volumes of muscle mass, bone mass, or water. A rapidly growing epidemic in the United States and in developing countries, obesity literally affects millions of citizens, including children worldwide.1 Associated with unquestionable health risks which increase incrementally in magnitude and severity as an individual's obesity level increases, obesity is a complex condition, with serious social and psychological dimensions, affecting virtually all ages and socioeconomic groups.2 Attributed in part to excess eating and poorly devised diets, unlike traditional epidemics, current evidence shows this epidemic cannot be defeated with either a pill or a vaccine. In addition to access to affordable, nutritious foods, preventing overweight and obesity commonly requires some form of change in an individual’s behavior to avert the increased risk of illness, disability and premature death.3,4 Sugar sweetened drinks, a daily fixture in American life, are highly linked to obesity and other health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.5 Consequently, there are many campaigns being launched to reduce consumption of soda and sugar sweetened beverages in cities and communities.6 To create healthier choices for citizens many hospitals and organizations have banned sugary drinks including fruit juices in addition to sugary soda drinks.7