Assesment of the Impact of Energy Drink Consumption on Nutritional Status of Undergraduate Students in Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Energy drink consumption is increasingly common among adolescents and young adults, particularly university students in Nigeria. The potential nutritional implications of these beverages, which are often high in sugar and calories, warrant investigation.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of energy drink consumption on the nutritional status of undergraduate students in Ogun State, Nigeria, with particular focus on its contribution to daily caloric intake and potential associations with Body Mass Index (BMI).

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2024 among undergraduate students at a federal tertiary institution in Ogun State.  A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 250 students across 10 academic departments. Data were collected using a validated, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire addressing socio-demographic characteristics, energy drink consumption patterns, and influencing factors. Anthropometric measurements were obtained following standardized procedures, and BMI was calculated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Result: The majority of respondents (44.4%) were aged 20-22 years, followed by 23-25 years (26.8%), 17-19 years (21.2%), and ≥25 years (7.6%). BMI categorization showed that 74%were within the normal weight range, 11.2% were underweight, 12% were overweight, and 2.8% were obese. Regarding energy drink consumption, 32.8% reported intake several times a month, 14.8% consumed once per week, and 7.2% consumed daily. The variety of available flavors (22%) were a key motivator for consumption. No statistically significant association was found between frequency of energy drink consumption and BMI categories (p = 0.051).

Conclusion: Energy drink consumption is prevalent among university students in Ogun State, driven in part by flavor preferences. However, this study found no significant short-term impact on nutritional status as measured by BMI. Longitudinal studies are recommended to assess potential long-term health effects of regular energy drink consumption

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