Nutritional content of television food advertisements seen by children and adolescents: An update

Given the high rates of child and adolescent obesity, the previously documented low-nutritional content of the majority of TV food ads and recent industry self-regulation pledges, this study examines the trends in the nutritional content of food advertising seen by American children and adolescents. The study draws on TV ratings to examine the nutritional content for fat, saturated fat, sugar, sodium and fiber of food product advertisements seen on television by children ages 2-5 and 6-11 and adolescents ages 12-17. Food products are examined in aggregate and by five separate categories that include cereal, sweets, snacks, beverages and other food products. The nutritional content for each ad seen is weighted by the television ratings data to provide actual exposure measures of the nutritional content of food advertising seen by children and adolescents. Data are examined for the years 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. Results are expected to show a decline in exposure to high-sugar, high-fat and high-sodium food products and a potential increase in exposure to high-fiber food products. Study findings will provide new evidence to help further assess the extent to which self-regulatory pledges can translate into a reduction in the promotion of unhealthy food products and an increase in the promotion of healthier foods and beverages.