The Welsh Government has launched plans to tackle obesity, which could see energy drinks banned for under-16s across the country. The number of takeaways selling hot food could also be limited near schools to try make young people healthier and stop rising obesity rates.
Concerns have been raised that the rising consumption of high-caffeine energy drinks is impacting students' educations. Some energy drinks have 21 teaspoons of sugar and the same caffeine content as three cups of coffee. Research shows that children who drink at least one energy drink per week are more likely to report symptoms such as headaches, sleep problems, and stomach problems as well as low mood and irritability. There is also evidence to link regular energy drink consumption with low educational engagement.
In Wales approximately 1.5m adults are overweight with 600,000 of those people being obese while more than one in four children in Wales are overweight or obese when they start primary school. It is estimated obesity costs the NHS £6.1b per year across the UK.
