Worse Memory and Sleep: Soda
LIFESTYLE
2/19/2026
WARM-UP
Answer briefly. No overthinking.
Do you drink soda or sports drinks?
Do you sleep well every night?
Do you think sugar affects your mood?
VOCABULARY
ESSENTIAL (A2–B1)
obesity – the condition of being very overweight
Example: Obesity is a growing health problem.
decay – damage or destruction over time
Example: Tooth decay can cause pain.
consumption – the act of eating or drinking something
Example: Sugar consumption should be limited.
assess – to evaluate or judge something
Example: Doctors assess patients’ health.
rely – to depend on someone or something
Example: Many students rely on caffeine to stay awake.
DEVELOPED (B2–C2)
cognitive – related to thinking and mental processes
Example: Sleep affects cognitive performance.
sleep deprivation – not getting enough sleep
Example: Sleep deprivation can reduce focus.
self-reported data – information provided by participants about themselves
Example: The study used self-reported data.
concentration – the ability to focus attention
Example: Sugar crashes can harm concentration.
correlation – a connection between two things
Example: The study found a correlation between soda and poor sleep.
READING
INTRODUCTION
Sugary drinks are already linked to obesity and tooth decay. A new study suggests they may also affect teenagers’ sleep and cognitive abilities.
ARTICLE (ALL LEVELS)
Researchers studied teenagers’ soda consumption and sleep habits.
They found that students who drank soda daily were more likely to report problems with memory and concentration.
DEVELOPED ARTICLE (B1–C2)
The study examined survey responses from over 8,000 high school students. Researchers wanted to assess whether sugary drink consumption was connected to sleep duration and cognitive performance.
The results showed a clear correlation: the more soda teenagers drank, the less sleep they reported getting.
However, the research relied on self-reported data, which may not always be fully reliable. The study could not prove cause and effect, only that a connection exists.
Still, experts warn that reducing sugary drink consumption may improve both mental health and reduce risks such as obesity and tooth decay.
COMPREHENSION CHECK
A1–A2
What health problems are linked to soda?
What does consumption mean?
Did students who drank more soda sleep more or less?
B1–B2
What are cognitive abilities?
Why did researchers assess sleep duration?
What is the difference between cause and correlation?
C1–C2
What are the limitations of using self-reported data?
How might sleep deprivation affect academic performance?
Why is it difficult to prove direct causation in nutrition studies?
SPEAKING
A1–A2 — FOUNDATION
Language Support:
“I think…”
“I usually…”
“It makes me…”
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
Do you drink soda every day?
Did you drink many sugary drinks as a teenager?
Do you sleep at least seven hours?
Do sugary drinks affect your energy?
Do you worry about obesity?
Have you experienced tooth decay?
Do you drink water before bed?
Do you feel tired at school or work?
Do you rely on coffee or soda?
Do you check food labels?
Do you prefer sweet or salty snacks?
Do you avoid sugar at night?
Do you think teenagers sleep enough?
Do you think sugar affects concentration?
Would you reduce soda consumption?
B1–B2 — EXPANSION
Language Support:
“In my opinion…”
“I believe that…”
“One reason is…”
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
Why do teenagers drink so many sugary drinks?
Should schools limit soda sales?
How does caffeine affect sleep?
Can reducing sugar improve cognitive performance?
Do parents influence children’s drink consumption?
Should sugary drinks have warning labels?
How does poor sleep affect mood?
Do marketing campaigns target young people?
Is sugar addictive?
Should governments tax sugary drinks?
How can families promote healthier habits?
Do you track your sleep quality?
Are sports drinks healthier than soda?
How does sleep deprivation impact memory?
Can awareness campaigns change behavior?
C1–C2 — DEPTH & REFLECTION
Language Support:
“This suggests that…”
“One implication is…”
“From a public health perspective…”
PERSONAL QUESTIONS
How strong is the evidence linking sugar and cognitive decline?
Should public policy regulate adolescent sugar consumption?
How reliable is self-reported data in large studies?
Could socioeconomic factors influence the results?
How does advertising shape youth behavior?
Should corporations be responsible for rising obesity rates?
How does sleep quality influence long-term brain health?
Is personal responsibility enough to address health crises?
How might schools intervene effectively?
What ethical issues surround marketing sugary drinks to minors?
Can technology help monitor and improve sleep habits?
Should health education begin earlier?
How does modern lifestyle reduce sleep duration?
Could stricter labeling reduce sugar consumption?
What long-term societal effects could poor teen sleep have?
