Awareness and Intake of Caffeine-Containing Foods among High School Students in Seoul

ABSTRACT

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.