Energy drinks, weight loss, and disordered eating behaviors

Abstract

Objective: The present study examined energy drink consumption and relations with weight loss attempts and behaviors, body image, and eating disorders.

Participants/methods: This is a secondary analysis using data from 856 undergraduate students who completed the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment II confidentially online during February 2012.

Results: This study revealed that the majority reported lifetime consumption of energy drinks (68.4%) and a substantial minority (30.2%) reported past-30-day consumption. Chi-square and t test results suggest that consumption is associated with concerns about personal appearance, weight loss attempts, and disordered eating behaviors (eg, vomiting). Hierarchical logistic regressions revealed that after controlling for demographics, the relations between energy drink consumption and the act of trying to lose weight, the use of diet pills, and the use of vomiting/laxatives remained significant.

Conclusions: The current findings suggest that energy drink consumption is associated with weight loss attempts, poor body image, and unhealthy weight loss behaviors. Future research should examine the prevalence of energy drink consumption for the purpose of weight loss.

Keywords: body image; disordered eating; energy drinks; weight loss.