Television Food Advertising Research Articles

Features of the implementation of speech strategies and tactics in the slogan of television food advertising

The article is devoted to the study of speech strategies and tactics in the slogan of television food advertising. The slogan as an element of the advertising text plays a significant role in influencing the consciousness and behavior of the addressee. Slogans implement various speech strategies and tactics to ensure the success of advertising communication. The difficulty of studying this phenomenon lies in a short formulation with great strategic potential and its uncertain relationship with the main text of television advertising. The relevance of this study is related to the importance of the slogan in the advertising text and the prospects for studying speech strategies and tactics in the slogan of television food advertising. The article aims to identify the features of speech strategies and tactics in the slogan of television food advertising. The method of linguistic and pragmatic analysis was used in the work, which makes it possible to identify speech strategies and tactics in the slogan of television advertising of food products and describe the linguistic features of their implementation. The novelty of the research lies in a comprehensive examination of speech strategies and tactics in the slogan, taking into account the main advertising text. As a result of the analysis, corporate slogan, product slogan and festive slogan were highlighted in television advertising. The slogans of television food advertising highlight presentation strategy, convincing strategy, persuading strategy and reminiscent strategy, as well as tactics and techniques within the framework of relevant strategies. The linguistic means of verbalization of techniques used within the framework of appropriate speech strategies and tactics in television advertising of food are described. The correlation of their implementation with the main advertising text has been established. The slogan of a TV advertisement usually implements several strategies and tactics at the same time. The implementation of the convincing strategy in a product slogan is relevant to the main advertising text. The implementation of other strategies in the slogan is not related to the main advertising text.

Exposure and power of TV food advertising during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: a content analysis

BackgroundWith the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the Brazilian population has increased the time spent at home and watching television (TV). Since food advertising exposure is a key driver of food choices, this study described the content of food advertisements (ads) on Brazilian TV during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis is an exploratory study. A total of 684 h of TV programming comprised of three free-to-air channels and two pay-per-view channels was recorded from 06 a.m. to 12 a.m. for eight non-consecutive days in June 2020. A content analysis of all the food-related ads was carried out. The data collection process followed INFORMAS Protocol for TV food advertising monitoring.ResultsThe sample was composed of 7,083 ads, 752 (10.6%) of which were food-related and 487 (6.9%) were promoting ultra-processed foods. The content analysis indicated seven thematic categories, all of them with reference to the COVID-19 pandemic: brand and product differentials (79.8%); visual and sound effects (70.2%); thematic campaigns (56.0%); digitization (22.9%); convenience (16.5%); economic benefits (11.9%); and commensality and social interaction (6.1%). Ads content varied according to the day of the week, the time of the day, the length of the ad, and the channel type.ConclusionsThe thematic of food advertising on Brazilian TV during the COVID-19 pandemic is aligned with the country’s health crisis context and varied during the programming.

Maternal Perception and Attitude towards Television Food Advertisements Targeting Children: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study from Pune, India

Introduction: Television food advertisements targeting children are recognised as a significant health risk, influencing their dietary choices and contributing to the increasing prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among children in Low and Middle-income Countries (LMICs). Understanding maternal perceptions and attitudes towards these advertisements is crucial for designing effective public health interventions. Aim: To evaluate maternal perceptions and attitudes toward television food advertisements targeting children, specifically among mothers of children aged 4-11 years. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India, from My 2023 to November 2023. A total of 332 mothers of children aged 4-11 years were divided into two groups: Group 1 (mothers of children aged 4-7 years) with 159 participants, and group 2 (mothers of children aged 8-11 years) with 173 participants. A prevalidated, closed-ended questionnaire consisting of 24 questions was administered to the mothers. The reliability of the questionnaire was ensured through the preliminary exploratory study and expert reviews, achieving a Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.84. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests to compare perceptions of mothers in both groups. Results: The study received 332 responses from mothers with children aged 4-11 years. Significant differences between the two age groups were observed. In group 1, 64 (52%) mothers mothers agreed, while 41 (57.7%) mothers in group 2 strongly agreed that their children show a keen interest in watching food advertisements. Additionally, 80 (55.9%) mothers in group 1 agreed, while 39 (44.8%) mothers in group 2 strongly agreed that their children do not understand the persuasive intent of food advertisements, with statistical significance (p-value=0.001). Most mothers, 75 (52.4%) in group 1 and 68 (47.6%) in group 2, agreed that reducing exposure to food advertisements would improve children’s eating behaviour (p-value=0.01). Moreover, 61 (64.9%) mothers in group 1 strongly agreed, and 77 (58.3%) mothers in group 2 agreed that seeing advertisements persuaded children to want unhealthy foods, highlighting significant differences between the age groups (p-value=0.004). Conclusion: Mothers recognise the negative impact of TV food advertisements on their children’s eating habits, particularly noting the use of cartoons and celebrities to promote unhealthy snacks and low-nutrition food that their children struggle to understand. The present study emphasises the urgent need for regulatory measures to protect young viewers and promote healthier dietary choices across different age groups.

Food for thought or food for emotions? An analysis of marketing strategies in television food advertising seen by children in Colombia.

To establish the relationship between the marketing strategies and nutritional quality of foods and beverages promoted in television food advertisements (TV ads) seen by Colombian child audiences overall and based on child gender and socio-economic strata (SES). A quantitative content analysis of marketing appeals was combined with nutritional data of the food products advertised and matched with TV audience ratings data for each food and beverage ads for Colombian children between 4 and 11 years. All beverages and foods TV ads cable or over-the-air channels in Colombia in 2017. N/A. Compared with rational appeals (e.g. freshness, health or nutrition messages), emotional appeals (referencing or depicting human senses or emotions, e.g. using cartoons to suggest fun) were more frequently used in the TV ads most viewed by Colombian children. Female children and children in lower SES tended to be more exposed to emotional appeals in TV ads than their male or higher SES counterparts. Furthermore, TV ads using more emotional appeals tended to be for products high in problematic nutrients. The findings of this study highlight the need to implement statutory measures to reduce the deleterious effect of food marketing on children.

Abusive advertising of food and drink products on Brazilian television.

In Brazil, any advertising strategies that take advantage of the child’s judgment or induce consumers to make harmful health choices are considered abusive. However, the efficacy of restrictions on their use on television (TV) food advertising remains poorly understood. This study analysed the extent and nature of abusive techniques according to national regulations and patterns in their use in food-related ads. Cross-sectional studyrecorded the programming of the three most popular TV channels (6 am–12 am), during eight non-consecutive days, in April 2018. Data collection was based on the INFORMAS protocol and two national regulations. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the types of food ads and abusive techniques used in ultra-processed products (UPP) ads. Principal component analysis was applied to identify patterns of abusive marketing techniques and to relate them to specific food groups. More than 90% of food ads included at least one UPP. Overall, 10.1% of UPP ads targeted children and 57.7% used some kind of abusive technique directed to children and adolescents. Most ads contained messages inducing harmful health choices did not present adequate and clear information about the product and contained more than one type of abusive technique. Four out of five patterns in the use of abusive techniques in UPP ads were specifically directed to children, and fast-food meals were associated with three out of five patterns. The high abusiveness of food advertising in UPP ads should be considered a public health concern given their impact on children’s food choices and health.

Children's measured exposure to food and beverage advertising on television in a regulated environment, May 2011-2019.

To quantify food/beverage advertising on television in Montreal (Quebec), to estimate and characterise children's exposure and to examine trends over time. Television food advertising data were licensed for nineteen food categories and eighteen stations for May 2011, 2016 and 2019. The frequency of advertisements and the average number viewed per child aged 2-11 years overall, by food category and by station type (i.e. youth-appealing (n 3) and generalist (n 15) stations) were determined. The percent change in advertising frequency and exposure between May 2011 and 2019 was calculated. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This study used media data and did not directly involve human participants. The total number of television advertisements increased by 11 % between May 2011 (n 41084) and May 2019 (n 45406); however, exposure to food/beverage advertisements decreased by 53 %, going from 226 ads/child in May 2011 to 107 ads/child in May 2019. Overall, the most advertised food categories in both May 2011 and 2019 were fast food (29·8 % and 39·2 %, respectively) followed by chocolate (14·2 %) in 2011 and savory snacks (9·7 %) in 2019. In May 2019, children were predominantly exposed to unhealthy food categories such as fast food (41·3 % of exposure), savory snacks (7·5 %), chocolate (5·0 %) and regular soft drinks (4·5 %), and most (89·3 %) of their total exposure occurred on generalist television stations. Despite Quebec's restrictions on commercial advertising directed to children under 13 years, Quebecois children are still frequently exposed to unhealthy food advertising on television. Government should tighten restrictions to protect children from this exposure.

Exposure of children to television food advertisements: an observational analysis

Television advertisements are a powerful medium by which food companies can influence children's dietary choices. This study aimed to determine the current frequency and nutritional content of food and drink advertisements on popular television channels and ascertain whether this differed depending on the target age-group. In this study, television channels were classified by their stated target age-groups. A total of 96 hours of the most popular television channels from each age category were watched during children's peak viewing times, and food and drink advertisements were nutritionally analysed. Overall, 9.5% of advertisements observed were for food and drink. More food and drink advertisements (P<0.001) and those promoting high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) products (P<0.001) were broadcast on channels aimed towards older children. There is an ongoing exposure of children to HFSS products via both adult- and child-targeted television channels. Further efforts are required to limit this.

Impact of Television Food Advertisements on Pester Power: Parent’s Perspective on Children’s Behavior

Impact of Television Food Advertisements on Pester Power: Parent’s Perspective on Children’s Behavior

Effect of health-promoting messages in television food commercials on adolescents’ attitudes and consumption: A randomized intervention study

IntroductionThe HAVISA plan is a Spanish government's policy for the promotion of healthy lifestyles via health messages in television food advertisements. This study evaluated the positive or negative impact (health halo effect) of health messages on food choices and predisposition towards healthy habits of Spanish adolescents. MethodsRandomized controlled study in 11–14 years old adolescents. The intervention group watched television advertisements for unhealthy foods with HAVISA health messages, while the control group watched the same advertisements without them. A self-administered questionnaire measured participants’ attitudes towards the products advertised, to diet and physical activity, and recognition of messages. Afterwards they chose between fruit and unhealthy snacks. The differences between the two groups were then compared. ResultsA total of 27.2% of the control group versus 29.6% of the intervention group chose fruit (p = 0.54). Both groups displayed high desire for (7.24 vs. 7.40, p = 0.29) and intention to consume (6.67 vs. 6.73, p = 0.63) the unhealthy products advertised. There were no differences in perceived healthiness of these foods (4.11 vs. 4.19, p = 0.74), or perceived importance of a healthy diet (3.17 vs. 3.12, p = 0.55) or physical activity (4.53 vs. 4.51, p = 0.73). Desire for vegetables (2.49 vs. 2.66, p = 0.08) and fruit (3.15 vs. 3.30, p = 0.09) were higher in the intervention group, but the differences were not significant. Only 47.6% of participants noticed the presence of health messages; of these, 31% correctly recalled their content. ConclusionHAVISA health messages changed neither the attitudes nor immediate eating behaviors of adolescents. There was no immediate healthy-lifestyle promoter or adverse health halo effect, probably due to the messages’ low prominence. Further research should evaluate the long-term effect of repeated exposure to health messages.

Food advertisements on television and eating habits in adolescents: a school-based study.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To analyze the association of television food advertisements with eating habits in Brazilian adolescents.METHODS The sample was composed of 1,011 adolescents, aged from 10–17 years. The influence of television food advertisements on eating habits, as well as food consumption and socioeconomic variables were assessed through questionnaires. A binary logistic regression was performed to assess the magnitude of the associations, adjusted for gender, age, socioeconomic status, and parental schooling.RESULTS Of the sample, 83.3% (n = 843) reported food consumption while watching TV. Adolescents who do not consume food while watching TV had a higher weekly consumption of fruits (3.98, SD = 2.0 versus 3.39, SD = 2.1) and vegetables (4.1, SD = 2.2 versus 3.4, SD = 2.3). Adolescents that consume food while watching TV had higher weekly consumption of fried foods (3.1, SD = 2.0 versus 2.3, SD = 1.7), sweets (4.1, SD = 2.1 versus 3.3, SD = 2.1), soft drinks (3.2, SD = 2.1 versus 2.2, SD = 1.9), and snacks (2.3, SD = 2.0 versus 1.6, SD = 1.7). For 73,8% of the sample, food advertisements induce product consumerism, most commonly sweets and fast foods. Buying or asking to buy food after seeing it on the television was associated with fried foods (OR = 1.36, 95%CI = 1.03– 1.79), sweets (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.30–2.18), and snacks (OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 1.12–2.22).CONCLUSION Food advertisements were associated with greater consumption of fried foods, sweets, and snacks in adolescents, even after adjusting for confounding factors.

Exposure to Food and Beverage Advertising on Television among Canadian Adolescents, 2011 to 2016.

Adolescents represent a key audience for food advertisers, however there is little evidence of adolescent exposure to food marketing in Canada. This study examined trends in Canadian adolescents’ exposure to food advertising on television. To do so, data on 19 food categories were licensed from Nielsen Media Research for May 2011, 2013, and 2016 for the broadcasting market of Toronto, Canada. The average number of advertisements viewed by adolescents aged 12–17 years on 31 television stations during the month of May each year was estimated using television ratings data. Findings revealed that between May 2011 and May 2016, the total number of food advertisements aired on all television stations increased by 4%, while adolescents’ average exposure to food advertising decreased by 31%, going from 221 ads in May 2011 to 154 in May 2016. In May 2016, the advertising of fast food and sugary drinks dominated, relative to other categories, accounting for 42% and 11% of all exposures, respectively. The findings demonstrate a declining trend in exposure to television food advertising among Canadian adolescents, which may be due to shifts in media consumption. These data may serve as a benchmark for monitoring and evaluating future food marketing policies in Canada.

Remember Me? Exposure to Unfamiliar Food Brands in Television Advertising and Online Advergames Drives Children’s Brand Recognition, Attitudes, and Desire to Eat Foods: A Secondary Analysis from a Crossover Experimental-Control Study with Randomization at the Group Level

BackgroundLimitations in current Australian regulatory provisions may be identified by demonstrating the effect of different marketing methods on children’s recognition and attitudes toward unhealthy food brands. ObjectiveTo investigate how exposure to different marketing techniques from television (TV) and online food advertising affects children’s brand recall, recognition, and attitudinal responses toward brands and brand consumers and children’s desire to eat the advertised products. DesignSecondary analysis of data from a crossover experimental-control study. Participants/settingIn all, 154 children (7 to 12 years) completed the study, conducted at four 6-day holiday camps from April 2016 to January 2017 in New South Wales, Australia. Children were assigned to a single-media (n=76) or multiple-media (n=78) condition. InterventionAll children viewed 10 TV food advertisements in a cartoon on three occasions. For one of the brands, one set of children additionally played online “advergames” featuring the brand. Main outcome measuresChildren’s recognition and attitudes toward brands and brand consumers and children’s desire to eat the product were reported via a brand recognition and attitude survey pre- and postintervention. Marketing techniques were categorized. Statistical analysisPre- and postintervention brand recognition and relationships between brand recognition and attitudes by media condition and desire to eat the product were examined using generalized linear mixed models and linear mixed models. ResultsThere was a significant increase in the number of brands recognized postexposure by children in both media groups (mean difference=3.8, P<0.0001). The majority of brands appealed to children. Children who reported wanting to eat the advertised products rated brands more positively than children who did not express a desire to eat the products. A larger proportion of children who played the advergames (36%) rated brand consumers as “cool” than children who viewed the TV advertisements only (19%) (P<0.001). Anti-adult themes, fun and humor, and parent pleasing were techniques unique to some of the most recognized and favored advertisements. ConclusionsThe marketing communications increased children’s brand recognition and elicited positive attitudinal responses. These findings indicate a need for policy makers to consider additional regulations to protect children from the persuasive influence of unhealthy food advertising.

Children's Exposure to Television Food Advertising Contributes to Strong Brand Attachments.

Children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing is one factor contributing to childhood obesity. The impact of marketing on children’s weight likely occurs via a cascade pathway, through influences on children’s food brand awareness, emotional responses, purchasing and consumption. Thus, building emotional attachments to brands is a major marketing imperative. This study explored Australian children’s emotional attachments to food and drink brands and compared the strength of these attachments to their food marketing exposure, using television viewing as a proxy indicator. A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted with 282 Australian children (8–12 years). Children were asked to indicate their agreement/disagreement with statements about their favourite food and drink brands, as an indicator of the strength and prominence of their brand attachments. Questions captured information about minutes/day of television viewing and the extent that they were exposed to advertising (watched live or did not skip through ads on recorded television). For those children who were exposed to advertisements, their age and commercial television viewing time had significant effects on food and drink brand attachments (p = 0.001). The development of brand attachments is an intermediary pathway through which marketing operates on behavioural and health outcomes. Reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing should be a policy priority for governments towards obesity and non-communicable disease prevention.

Television food and beverage marketing to children in Costa Rica: current state and policy implications.

To examine the frequency of television (TV) food and beverage advertisements (F&B ads) to which children (4-11 years) are likely exposed and the nutrient profile of products advertised. TV broadcasting between September and November 2016 was recorded (288 h of children's programming; 288 h of family programming) resulting in 8980 advertisements, of which 1862 were F&B ads. Of those, 1473 could be classified into one of the seventeen food groups, and into permitted/non-permitted according to the WHO-EU nutrient profile model. Persuasive marketing techniques used were also identified. TV programming was recorded for four weekdays and four weekend days, between 06.00 and 00.00 hours (576 total hours), for four channels (two national and two cable), in Costa Rica. Mean (sd) number of F&B ads/h was greater in cable than national channels (3·7 (0·4) v. 2·8 (0·4), P < 0·05) and during children's peak viewing hours (4·4 (0·4) v. 2·9 (0·3)). Of F&B ads classified with WHO-EU nutrient profile model (n 1473, 71·1 %), 91·1 % were non-permitted to be marketed to children. Categories most frequently advertised were ready-made/convenience foods (16 %), chocolates/confectionery/desserts (15 %), breakfast cereals (14 %), beverages (15 %), edible ices (9 %) and salty snacks (8 %). Non-permitted F&B ads were more likely to use promotional characters, brand benefit claims, and nutrition and health claims than permitted F&B ads. Children watching popular TV channels in Costa Rica are exposed to a high number of unhealthy F&B ads daily. Our findings help justify the need for regulatory actions by national authorities.

The effect of screen advertising on children's dietary intake: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

SummaryEvidence indicates that screen advertising for unhealthy food results in significant increases in dietary intake among children. This review was undertaken with the main aim of estimating the quantitative effect of screen advertising in experimental and nonexperimental conditions on children's dietary intake.Systematic searches were undertaken of interdisciplinary databases. Studies from 1980 to April 2018, all geography and languages, were included; participants were children and adolescents aged between 2 and 18 years; the intervention was screen advertising; and the outcome was dietary intake. Meta‐analyses were conducted for measured and nonmeasured outcomes.Food advertising was found to increase dietary intake among children (age range 2‐14, mean 8.8 years) in experimental conditions for television (TV) advertising and advergames. Meta‐analysis revealed that children exposed to food advertising on TV (11 studies) and advergames (five studies) respectively consumed an average 60.0 kcal (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1‐116.9) and 53.2 kcal (95% CI, 31.5‐74.9) more than children exposed to nonfood advertising. There was also an effect by body mass index (BMI). Findings from nonexperimental studies revealed that exposure to TV food advertising was positively associated with and predictive of dietary intake in children.Short‐term exposure to unhealthy food advertising on TV and advergames increases immediate calorie consumption in children.

Food Advertising Literacy Training Reduces the Importance of Taste in Children's Food Decision-Making: A Pilot Study.

Television food advertising influences children’s food choices. The attribute of “taste” drives children’s food choices, and exposure to food commercials can increase the importance of “taste” when children make food decisions. The current pilot study explored whether food advertising literacy training influences children’s food choices. In particular, whether the training would change the way children weigh the importance of taste attributes in their food decisions. Thirty-nine children ages 8–13 were recruited. Twenty-three of those children had four sessions of food advertising literacy training (1 week): children watched four videos of food commercials embedded with factual narratives (i.e., building cognitive defenses; e.g., “commercials want to sell products”) and evaluative narratives (i.e., changing affective responses toward commercials; e.g., “these foods don’t make you happy”). The first and last sessions were held in the laboratory, and the second and third sessions were at home. During the training, children were encouraged to think aloud while watching commercials and provided narratives to encourage active information processing. At baseline and post-training, children made binary eating choices for 60 foods and rated each food item on health and taste. We fitted linear regression models to examine whether taste and health attributes predicted unique variance in each child’s food choices. The results showed that taste attributes in children’s food choices was significantly decreased after completing the training. This finding suggested that improving food advertising literacy could be helpful for reducing the influence of taste attributes in the food decision-making process. Also, the cognitive literacy training increased children’s critical thoughts toward commercials during thinking aloud. These findings suggest that food advertising literacy training was helpful for reducing the importance of “taste” in children’s food decisions. In contrast, 16 children in the control condition (i.e., watching four videos of food commercials without narratives in 1 week) did not show any significant change in their food choices. Future research should investigate the utility of food advertising literacy training for the promotion of healthy eating and the prevention of childhood obesity.

The Health Halo Trend in UK Television Food Advertising Viewed by Children: The Rise of Implicit and Explicit Health Messaging in the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods.

Monitoring the creative content within food marketing to children is strongly advocated by public health authorities, but few studies address the prevalence of health-related messaging in television adverts. Food and beverage adverts (n = 18,888 in 2008, n = 6664 in 2010) from UK television channels popular with children were coded and analyzed. Physical-activity depiction displayed an 18.8 percentage point increase from 2008 (4.4%) to 2010 (23.2%). Of the food adverts containing physical-activity depiction in 2010, 81.1% were for non-core foods. The appearance of health claims in food adverts in 2010 increased 4.1 percentage points from 2008 levels (20.7% to 24.8%) where the majority of food adverts featuring health and nutrition claims were for non-core foods (58.3%). Health-related (e.g., health/nutrition, weight loss/diet) appeals were used in 17.1% of food adverts during peak child-viewing times, rising to 33.0% of adverts shown on dedicated children’s channels in 2010. Implicit (physical activity) and explicit (health claims) health messages are increasingly prevalent in UK television food advertising viewed by children, and are frequently used to promote unhealthy foods. Policy makers in the UK should consider amendments to the existing statutory approach in order to address this issue.

Junk food advertising moderates the indirect effect of reward sensitivity and food consumption via the urge to eat

The current study aimed to identify how underlying individual differences increases vulnerability to television food advertising. In particular, this study examined how reward sensitivity, a biologically-based predisposition to approach rewards (such as appetitive foods) in the environment, influenced participants' vulnerability to television food advertising and subsequent food consumption. Ninety-eight participants were randomly assigned to a cue condition (food cues versus non-food cues) and then viewed a 30 min documentary interrupted by advertising featuring a mix of food and neutral advertising (food cue condition) or only neutral advertising (non-food cue condition). Participants' reward sensitivity, approach motivation measured as urge to eat, and food consumption were recorded. Moderated mediation regression analyses revealed the positive association between reward sensitivity and food consumption was mediated by an increase in urge to eat, but only when participants were exposed to food advertising. These findings suggest heightened reward sensitivity, exposure to appetitive food cues, and approach motivation are key interacting mechanisms that may lead to maladaptive eating behaviours.

Children's exposure to food advertising: the impact of statutory restrictions.

Evidence demonstrating links between exposure to unhealthy food marketing, poor eating behaviours and paediatric obesity has led to calls for regulatory change in many countries, including the UK. However no official monitoring system exists to inform international debate on food advertising policy. This study systematically explores food advertising on UK television in 2010 (post-regulation) and compare this to 2008 (mid-regulation) to assess if food adverts improved in nutritional quality after implementation of regulations. Television was recorded between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. for one weekday and one weekend day during 6 months of 2010 across 13 commercial television channels popular with children. These data were directly compared with previously published data for 2008. Food and beverages were the third most frequently advertised product type (11.9% of all ads), a decrease of 0.9% from 2008 (12.8%). Non-core food commercials decreased (down 2.2-53.8%) and core food advertising increased (up 0.5-18.6%). Fast food items were the third most frequently advertised food product (15.4%, up 3.5% from 2008). During peak children's viewing times, 17.0% of all commercials were for food, an increase of 4.7% from non-peak children's viewing times and fewer core (-0.9%) and more non-core (+0.5%) foods were advertised at these times. Despite statutory regulation, frequency and balance of food commercials (core, non-core and miscellaneous) remained relatively static over the 2 years. Children are still exposed to high amounts of unhealthy food advertising on television. Continued monitoring of television food advertising remains crucial and policymakers should examine the comparative efficacy of other restrictions.

Television Food Advertising in Gulf Countries during Ramadan

Television Food Advertising in Gulf Countries during Ramadan