RESUMO
The high caffeine intake by adolescents has been a concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and consumption of caffeine-containing foods among 443 high school students using a questionnaire. An analysis of the spending patterns of the students’ weekly allowance showed that the amounts spent on purchasing caffeine-containing foods were higher for female students than male students (P ＜0.001). The scoring of the perception of caffeine was 3.1 out of 5, interest in the caffeine content of food was 2.6, consumption of caffeine-containing foods was 2.6, and usefulness of caffeine-containing foods was 2.7. The awareness of caffeine content in food was significantly higher in females (7.3 out of 11) than male students (6.7) (P＜0.01). Approximately 59% of students perceived that the relationship between caffeine-containing foods and health, was harmful, and the experience of side effects after taking caffeine was significantly higher in female students than males. These side effects include heartburn (P＜0.001), headache or dizziness (P＜0.001), irregular heartbeat (P＜0.05), and hands and feet shake (P＜0.01). Caffeine-containing foods were purchased at convenience stores (62.1%). The factor considered when purchasing caffeine-containing foods was taste (72.2%), and the use of nutrition labeling for caffeine-containing foods scored 2.0 out of 5 points. When assessing the intake of caffeine-containing foods, the foods consumed more than once a week were in the order of coke, chocolate, chocolate milk, chocolate pie, and chocolate bars. These results suggest that it is necessary to prepare a caffeine-related nutrition guide improvement by sales management, and strengthen food labeling standards for the desirable recognition of caffeine and its safe intake by adolescents.
RESUMO
The high caffeine intake by adolescents has been a concern. The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness and consumption of caffeine-containing foods among 443 high school students using a questionnaire. An analysis of the spending patterns of the students’ weekly allowance showed that the amounts spent on purchasing caffeine-containing foods were higher for female students than male students (P ＜0.001). The scoring of the perception of caffeine was 3.1 out of 5, interest in the caffeine content of food was 2.6, consumption of caffeine-containing foods was 2.6, and usefulness of caffeine-containing foods was 2.7. The awareness of caffeine content in food was significantly higher in females (7.3 out of 11) than male students (6.7) (P＜0.01). Approximately 59% of students perceived that the relationship between caffeine-containing foods and health, was harmful, and the experience of side effects after taking caffeine was significantly higher in female students than males. These side effects include heartburn (P＜0.001), headache or dizziness (P＜0.001), irregular heartbeat (P＜0.05), and hands and feet shake (P＜0.01). Caffeine-containing foods were purchased at convenience stores (62.1%). The factor considered when purchasing caffeine-containing foods was taste (72.2%), and the use of nutrition labeling for caffeine-containing foods scored 2.0 out of 5 points. When assessing the intake of caffeine-containing foods, the foods consumed more than once a week were in the order of coke, chocolate, chocolate milk, chocolate pie, and chocolate bars. These results suggest that it is necessary to prepare a caffeine-related nutrition guide improvement by sales management, and strengthen food labeling standards for the desirable recognition of caffeine and its safe intake by adolescents.