Energy drink consumption patterns and perceived benefits and health risks among MBBS students: a cross-sectional study

Summary

This cross-sectional study of 120 MBBS students in Kanpur, India found that nearly half consumed energy drinks primarily for energy and concentration despite high awareness (75%) of potential health risks. Paradoxically, awareness of health risks was not significantly associated with reduced consumption, and palpitations and gastrointestinal symptoms were commonly reported adverse effects. The authors suggest targeted health education and stress management interventions to reduce consumption among medical students.

Regional applicability

Whilst conducted in India, the findings are relevant to United Kingdom medical education contexts where energy drink consumption is also documented among university students under academic stress. However, differences in beverage availability, cultural norms, and healthcare systems mean direct policy transfer would require UK-specific validation; the disconnect between risk awareness and behaviour is a universal phenomenon worth investigating in UK cohorts.

Key measures

Prevalence of energy drink consumption (47.5%), consumption frequency, brand preference, motivations for use, awareness of health risks (75.0%), perceived long-term harm (85.0%), reported adverse effects (palpitations 16.7%, gastrointestinal symptoms 9.2%), associations with gender and year of study

Outcomes reported

The study measured prevalence and patterns of energy drink consumption among MBBS students, including reported motivations, awareness of health risks, and self-reported adverse effects.

Direct research

Primary abstract reports self-reported energy-drink consumption, motivations and adverse symptoms in a 120-student cross-sectional questionnaire.

Limits: Single-college observational/self-report evidence; sampling and confounding are unreviewed, and perceived adverse effects are not isolated causal treatment effects.

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