Nutrition Guidance for Healthy Children

NGHC: Childhood Nutrition and Advertising (2013)

• Assessment
  What is the impact of advertising on nutrition choices by children?

  • Conclusion

    Seven studies (three randomized controlled trials, two non-randomized controlled trials and  one cross-sectional study) met inclusion criteria for the question.

    Studies were in substantial agreement that television advertising increases food intake in children, that children prefer the taste of branded foods, that children choose marketed foods whether healthful or not and that advertising could be used to promote more healthful foods. Two studies found that obese children may be more susceptible to food advertising than normal-weight children. One study found that girls may be more susceptible to food advertising than boys.

     

     

     

  • Grade: I
    • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
    • Grade II is Fair;
    • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
    • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
    • Grade V is Not Assignable.
    • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
    • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
    • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
    • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
    • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
  • Evidence Summary: What is the impact of advertising on nutrition choices by children?
    • Detail
    • Quality Rating Summary
      For a summary of the Quality Rating results, click here.
    • Worksheets
      • Gunnarsdottir I, Thorsdottir I. Should we use popular brands to promote healthy eating among children? Public Health Nutr 2010; 13 (12): 2,064-2,067.
      • Halford JC, Boyland EJ, Hughes GM, Stacey L, McKean S, Dovey TM. Beyond-brand effect of television food advertisements on food choice in children: the effects of weight status. Public Health Nutr. 2008;11(9):897-904.
      • Lapierre MA, Vaala SE, Linebarger DL. Influence of licensed spokescharacters and health cues on children's ratings of cereal taste. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2011; 165 (3): 229-234.
      • Robinson TN, Borzekowski DL, Matheson DM, Kraemer HC. Effects of fast food branding on young children's taste preferences. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007; 161 (8): 792-797.
  • Search Plan and Results: NGHC: Advertising and Children's Nutrition Choices 2011