Sugary drinks, sleep and mental health were linked in adolescent studies
A scoping review found that higher sugary-drink intake tended to accompany more sleep and mental health problems. The authors proposed that the relationship could run in either direction.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The reviewed evidence suggests that adolescents consuming more sugar-sweetened beverages may also experience more sleep disturbances and mental health problems. It does not show that the drinks caused those problems. The authors raise a possible relationship in both directions, leaving open whether changes in sleep or mental health might also relate to beverage consumption.
The abstract gives no pooled effect estimate or study-level follow-up details. It identifies gaps requiring longitudinal and intervention studies, separate analyses of beverage types and more complete sleep measures, so causation and the direction of relationships remain unresolved.
Separate outcome areas
The review considered sleep and mental health as related but separate outcome areas. More included studies focused on mental health than on sleep, and the abstract describes the overall evidence as suggestive rather than conclusive.
Direction remains unresolved
The suggestion of a relationship in both directions is a hypothesis, not a demonstrated feedback loop. The authors call for research that follows adolescents over time and examines different beverage categories and sleep dimensions.
The original publication
How does sugar-sweetened beverage consumption relate to sleep and mental health in adolescents? A scoping review.
Di Nucci A, Cardamone E, Rossi L et al.
Front Nutr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41601889
- Record checked
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