This is also an opportunity to educate parents. "Parents may be unaware [that their children are drinking these beverages] or they may in fact, promote their use, which opens the door to provide education about these drinks for both patients and their parents," according to the report.
Dr. Lillian Beard, a pediatrician at the National Children’s Medical Center in Washington, and who also has a private practice in Silver Spring, Md., firmly agrees with the screening recommendation.
"Simply inquiring about beverage choices during the annual physical examination discussion offers a tremendous opportunity to inform our patient families on the real deal with sports and energy drinks," she said in an interview.
Continuous consumption of caffeinated beverages could compel young people to keep on drinking – even if they are unaware of the caffeine content, Dr. Beard noted in a 2007 commentary for Pediatric News, a publication of Elsevier, after she surveyed 108 of her patients ("Do Kids Crave Caffeine? Let’s Ask Them.")
"Those who want caffeinated drinks will seek them out, but many others don’t know the caffeine content of their favorite drinks. I think the popularity of [such drinks] reflects savvy marketing. Although adolescents are aware of how some beverages change their alertness, there seems to be a perception of these drinks as healthier choices regardless of whether they contain caffeine," Dr. Beard related concerning her survey findings.
All authors have filed conflict of interest statements with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Any conflicts have been resolved through a process approved by the Board of Directors.
Dr. Beard said she had no relevant financial disclosures.