The Rising Trend of Energy Drink Consumption among University Students: A Hidden Health Risk

Energy drinks, highly caffeinated beverages marketed to combat fatigue, are a global public health concern due to their association with adverse effects like insomnia and cardiovascular symptoms, particularly among young adults. Objective: To determine the prevalence, predictors, and self-reported health effects of energy drink consumption among university students in Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 460 students at the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Data on consumption patterns, knowledge, and health effects were collected. First, bivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with frequent energy drink use. Subsequently, multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of frequent energy drink use (≥3 times/week). The AOR from this test quantifies the strength of association between a predictor and the outcome, after controlling for the influence of other variables in the model. Results: The prevalence of current energy drink use was 175 (38.0%), with 22.9% of users classified as frequent consumers. Common consumption triggers were exam preparation (65.1%) and late-night studying (52.0%). Notably, 44.6% of users reported adverse effects, primarily insomnia (29.7%) and anxiety/jitters (18.2%). Knowledge about safe caffeine limits was low (28.5%). Significant predictors of frequent use included male gender (AOR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.3), residing in a university hostel (AOR=2.4; 95% CI: 1.4–4.2), and part-time employment (AOR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.0–2.9). Conclusions: The findings highlight an urgent need for targeted university-level health promotion interventions to educate students, particularly those in high-risk groups, about the potential dangers of energy drinks and to promote healthier alternatives for managing academic stress.