HealthDay (2/19, Neff) reports a systematic review and meta-analysis of nine studies “identified a troubling link between high-sugar drinks and increased anxiety symptoms in young people. Researchers reviewed studies published over the last 25 years, looking for patterns in how a teenager’s diet affects their mind. The beverages analyzed included soda, energy drinks, sweetened juices, flavored milks and even sugary teas and coffees.” The results showed that “the more sugary drinks a teenager consumed, the more likely they were to report symptoms of anxiety. In fact, a meta-analysis of the data linked high sugar intake to 34% higher odds of having an anxiety disorder.” The researchers “emphasized that their findings show an association between sugary drinks and anxiety rather than a direct cause-and-effect.” The review was published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
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— “Sweetened Drinks Linked to Higher Anxiety in Teens,”Deanna Neff, HealthDay , February 19, 2026