Energy Drink Consumption and Its Health Impacts Among Young Adult in Cambodia

Abstract

Energy drink consumption has become increasingly popular in Cambodia since theintroduction of Red Bull in 1997. High in caffeine and sugar, energy drinks are often marketed as energy boosters but are associated with various health risks, including cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and metabolic issues such as diabetes. While existing studies have primarily focused on the health impacts of energy drinks in developed countries, there is a lack of qualitative research exploring the socio-cultural and economic factors influencing energy drink consumption in developing countries like Cambodia. This study is a qualitative study using in- depth interviews and observations to collect data. The result demonstrates that numerous factors shape their energy drink consumption behavior, including social norms, peer influence, economic factors, and accessibility. Simultaneously, some of them have attempted to reduce or stop energy drink consumption, aligning with the health action process, with emphasis on the transition from intention to action in health behavior. This finding innovatively bridges the gap between energy drink consumption and diabetes from polybasic aspects and provides solid evidence for policy making in the realm of global health in Cambodia