Adolescents Losing Sleep Over Caffeine

Published on: March 8, 2003

by Melissa T. Shultz

Soda machines at school. Kids love them – money is generated from their sales, but at whose expense? The answer could be scientific.

The results of a recent study indicates caffeine may be interfering with the nighttime sleep of teenagers, and in some cases, affecting their ability to stay awake the next day. Even small amounts of caffeine were shown to have an impact.

For the study, nearly 200 7th- through 9th-grade students were surveyed over two weeks. During that time, students noted their sleep patterns as well as their daily intake of caffeinated drinks.

The average daily caffeine intake for each participant was 63 milligrams, the amount found in approximately half of a cup of coffee. Participants who took in higher amounts of caffeine slept less, were more likely to wake at night and were generally sleepier the next day.

Although most students said they had an average of 10-50 mg. of caffeine per day, some reported consuming as much as 800 mg. Overall, boys had more caffeine daily (70 mg), than girls (55 mg) daily.

Caffeine consumption continued on the weekends, when most students reported taking in the greatest amount of caffeine (77 mg.) on Saturdays. Caffeine consumption fell to an average low of 54 mg on Wednesdays.

In addition to removing soft drink machines from schools, other ideas to help keep adolescents from drinking too much caffeine include limiting the amount of caffeine in soft drinks and restricting the types of beverages that are allowed to be promoted to teenagers.

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