Energy drink may boost obesity

An AUT study has found an energy containing sugar, caffeine and guarana causes the body to convert sugar into fat more rapidly than lemonade

A GROUNDBREAKING study led by AUT Professor Elaine Rush (right) has found that an energy drink containing sugar, caffeine and guarana causes the body to convert sugar into fat more rapidly than lemonade.

“These results could have huge implications when you consider how much sugar and caffeine people consume these days, and the high rates of inactivity,” she says.

Professor Rush led the project’s team, which included AUT researcher Dr Vladimir Obolonkin and student Stephanie Schulz.

They recruited 10 healthy women aged 18 to 22 from a range of ethnicities. They were randomly given 250ml of an energy drink or lemonade on the first day and the alternative on the second day.

“When the women drank either the energy drink or lemonade, the sugar was absorbed into their systems within a minute,” she says. “Sugar is a simple carbohydrate and when it’s coupled with a large amount of caffeine, the body rapidly turns it into stored fat.”

Professor Rush says there is a place for everything in people’s diet, but worries what will happen to those who consume too much of these high-sugar, highly caffeinated products.

“Simple carbohydrates and caffeine were not large parts of our diet in the past. Inactive people have trouble burning off excess energy and this leads to weight gain.”

Professor Rush recognises the study’s limitations, but says it’s important, as this area has not been explored before.

“It also raises questions about the effects of consuming high-sugar foods and highly caffeinated drinks together in a short period of time.”