Summary: While public health initiatives often focus on the physical consequences of sugary diets—such as obesity and type-2 diabetes—the mental health impact has remained largely underexplored. A new systematic review and meta-analysis has identified a consistent association between high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.
Researchers analyzed multiple studies and found that energy-dense, nutrient-poor drinks—ranging from sodas and energy drinks to sweetened coffees—are tied to the rising trend of anxiety disorders in young people. While the study does not yet prove direct causation, it highlights a critical lifestyle factor that could be targeted to address the surge in adolescent mental health distress.
Key Facts
- The Sugar-Anxiety Connection: The meta-analysis found a consistent link between high sugary drink intake and increased symptoms of anxiety in teenagers.
- Broad Beverage Scope: The “sugary drink” category included fizzy sodas, energy drinks, sweetened juices, flavored milks, and even sweetened teas or coffees.
- Mental vs. Physical Focus: The researchers argue that mental health implications of diet are just as critical as physical risks like obesity or diabetes.
- A Rising Trend: With anxiety affecting approximately one in five young people in recent years, identifying changeable lifestyle habits like diet is a public health priority.
- Correlation vs. Causation: The team notes that while the link is strong, it is currently unclear if sugar causes anxiety, or if anxious adolescents are more likely to reach for sugary “comfort” drinks.
Source: University of Bournemouth
A new study has identified an association between consumption of drinks containing a high amount of sugar and anxiety symptoms in adolescents.
Researchers at Bournemouth University were part of a team involved in reviewing the findings of multiple studies that have investigated people’s diets and their mental health, to establish common findings.
Their results have been published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
“With increasing concern about adolescent nutrition, most public health initiatives have emphasised the physical consequences of poor dietary habits, such as obesity and type-2 diabetes,” said Dr Chloe Casey, Lecturer in Nutrition and co-author of the study.
“However, the mental health implications of diet have been underexplored by comparison, particularly for drinks that are energy dense but low in nutrients,” she added.
Anxiety disorders are a leading cause of mental distress among young people, in 2023 it was estimated that one in five children and young people had a mental health disorder, with anxiety one of the most reported conditions.
The studies investigated by the research team measured sugary drink consumption and mental health of the young people through surveys. Beverages with high amounts of sugar can include fizzy drinks, energy drinks, sugary juices, squashes, sweetened tea and coffee, and flavoured milks.
The results consistently found a link between high levels of sugary drink consumption and anxiety.
The researchers emphasise that because of the nature of the studies they investigated, the findings do not provide evidence that drinking more sugary drinks directly causes anxiety.
It is also possible that experiencing symptoms of anxiety leads to some young people consuming more sugary drinks. Or there could be other common factors – for example family life and sleeping disorders – that lead to both increased consumption and symptoms of anxiety.
“Whilst we may not be able to confirm at this stage what the direct cause is, this study has identified an unhealthy connection between consumption of sugary drinks and anxiety disorders in young people,” Dr Casey said.
“Anxiety disorders in adolescence have risen sharply in recent years so it is important to identify lifestyle habits which can be changed to reduce the risk of this trend continuing,” she concluded.
The study was led by former Bournemouth University PhD student, Dr Karim Khaled, who now works at Lebanese American University, Beirut.
Key Questions Answered:
A: This study shows a strong “unhealthy connection,” but it doesn’t prove that soda is the direct cause. It could be a two-way street: sugar might affect brain chemistry to increase stress, OR anxious teens might use sugary drinks to cope with their feelings.
A: Both were included in the “high sugar” category. However, energy drinks often contain caffeine, which is already known to mimic or worsen the physical symptoms of anxiety, like a racing heart and jitters.
A: Since anxiety disorders in teens are rising sharply, the researchers suggest that reducing sugary drink consumption is a manageable lifestyle change that might help lower the risk or severity of mental distress.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a Neuroscience News editor.
- Journal paper reviewed in full.
- Additional context added by our staff.
About this anxiety and diet research news
Author: Steve Bates
Source: Bournemouth University
Contact: Steve Bates – Bournemouth University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” by Karim Khaled, Nathalie Abdulbaki, Orouba Almilaji, Chloe Casey, Fotini Tsofliou. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
DOI:10.1111/jhn.70217
Abstract
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Background
Adolescence is a critical period for mental health, with anxiety disorders becoming increasingly prevalent. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have been identified as a potential dietary factor influencing mental health outcomes.
This systematic review aims to critically appraise the literature around the association between SSB consumption and anxiety disorders among adolescents.
Methods
A systematic search was conducted across electronic databases, including Medline Complete, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Data on SSB intake and anxiety outcomes were extracted, and the quality of the studies was evaluated using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies from the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Exposure.
Meta-analysis was conducted using random-effect model to estimate the odds ratios to assess the relationship between SSB intake and anxiety disorders with 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results
Nine studies meeting the inclusion criteria were selected, including seven cross-sectional studies and two longitudinal studies. Of the nine studies, seven reported a significant positive association between SSB consumption and anxiety, while two found no significant relationship. The longitudinal studies showed small but persistent associations over 1 year.
The studies using multiple linear regression demonstrated a consistent, small positive relationship between SSB intake and anxiety symptoms. The meta-analysis random effects model which is limited to studies reporting anxiety disorder as binary outcome revealed that higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was associated with increased odds of anxiety disorders (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14–1.59).
Conclusion
Given the predominance of observational designs, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than evidence of causality. Public health initiatives and clinical interventions aimed at reducing SSB intake may help mitigate the rising prevalence of anxiety disorders, specifically among adolescents.
