SpongeBob SugarPants? The imbalance of foods advertised on children's television

The National Academies' Institute of Medicine concluded that food marketing influences children's food preferences, requests, and diets. Yet, the majority of foods marketed to children are out of balance with the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This study investigated the nutritional quality of foods, beverages, and restaurant meals advertised on children's television programming on several national networks (27.5 hours) and in more depth on the most popular children's television channel, Nickelodeon (28 hours). The most frequently advertised foods during children's television programming are sugary cereals, restaurant meals, and snack foods. About nine out of ten ads shown are for foods that are high in fats, sugars, or sodium, or do not contain whole grains, fruits, vegetables, or key nutrients needed by children. Given these findings and the fact that children spend an average of about three hours a day watching television, the Institute of Medicine and other experts recommend a shift to children's television ads that are predominantly for healthier foods. The session will include a screening of food ads shown on children's television, a description of the criteria for analyzing the nutritional quality of advertised foods, and a discussion of the policy options for creating a better balance of foods advertised on children's television.