High schools across America often feature teens sipping coffee beverages. But is a daily dose of caffeine really helping kids start the day off right, or will it stunt their growth? A new report takes aim at these sweetened coffee beverages and brightly-marketed energy cans, warning children up to 18 that these caffeinated drinks may pose health risks.

Once upon a time, when a teenager expressed interest in coffee, parents would encourage them to sample it in moderation or offer decaf alternatives. Nowadays, however, options such as flavored lattes, coffee-based smoothies, fancy coffee shops with bells and whistles and energy drinks have proliferated exponentially – offering too many caffeinated treats that provide unnecessary calories while simultaneously exceeding teens’ caffeine intake capacity – leading health experts to advise that children and teenagers drink only water or milk instead.

Many coffee-based drinks contain alarming levels of sugar and fat, especially blended and milkshake-like drinks popular with young people. A 16-ounce Starbucks White Chocolate Creme Frappuccino contains an astonishing 610 calories and 19 grams of fat; in comparison, McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with cheese has only 510 calories and 24 grams.

Not only are these drinks high in calories and caffeine content, they often lack essential nutrients necessary for growth in children. Many may contain no calcium (essential for bone strength) and no vitamins A, C or D; and caffeine consumption inhibits iron absorption which could result in anemia.

Studies show that regular caffeine use among adolescents can interfere with the “phase delay” that naturally occurs during puberty, making sleep harder to come by. Furthermore, caffeine use can increase heart rates and blood pressure dramatically leading to anxiety or panic attacks and potentially disrupt learning abilities – among many other side effects associated with its use such as jitters or stomach upset.

As coffee and energy drinks have grown increasingly popular, their rising popularity has led to an explosion of caffeine consumption among teenagers – leading them to become the fastest-growing group of regular caffeine users; they also tend to suffer the greatest lack of sleep of all age groups.

Parents should discuss with their teen the benefits of giving up caffeine, and assist in helping them attain a sufficient amount of restful sleep. Doing this will allow them to stay healthy and perform better in school. When giving up coffee abruptly can cause headaches, muscle ache and irritability so it’s best to transition gradually – such as switching them over to half caf coffee before gradually moving towards decaf; or replacing sugary coffee drinks with water or fruit-based smoothies made with milk and yogurt as replacement beverages.