The DOI matches its Crossref record; 42 of the 42 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Nutritional Content of Television Food Advertisements Seen by Children and Adolescents in the United States
Abstract
OBJECTIVE. In light of the high rates of child and adolescent obesity, we examined the nutritional content of food advertising seen by American children and adolescents. METHODS. We drew samples of top-rated television shows by using ratings data to examine the nutritional content for fat, saturated fat, sugar, sodium, and fiber of food-product advertisements seen on television by both children and adolescents. Food products were examined in aggregate and by 5 separate categories that included cereal, sweets, snacks, drinks, and other food products. For 2- to 11-year-olds and 12- to 17-year-olds, respectively, a sample of 50351 and 47955 30-second-equivalent food-product advertisements and their related nutritional content were weighted by television ratings data to provide actual exposure measures of the nutritional content of food advertising seen by children and adolescents. RESULTS. Study results showed that 97.8% and 89.4% of food-product advertisements viewed by children 2 to 11 years old and adolescents 12 to 17 years old, respectively, were high in fat, sugar, or sodium. On average, 46.1% and 49.1% of total calories among the products advertised came from sugar in the advertisements seen by these respective age groups. A total of 97.6% of cereal advertisements seen by children 2 to 11 years old were for high-sugar cereals. No substantial differences were found in the nutritional content of advertisements seen by black and white children 2 to 11 years old. However, a slightly higher proportion of food advertisements in general and across all food-product categories seen by black versus white adolescents were for high-sugar products. CONCLUSION. The overwhelming majority of food-product advertisements seen on television by American children and adolescents are of poor nutritional content.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“For example, in a review of ≈98,000 food-product advertisements on top-rated US children’s television shows, 98% and 89% of the advertised foods seen by viewers 2 to 11 years of age and 12 to 17 years of age, respectively, were packaged or processed foods that were high in fat, sugar, or sodium.”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [390]
In the citing paper
“The IOM committee as well as other recent analyses also concluded that food and beverage marketing practices geared to children and youth are out of balance with recommended healthful diets and contribute to an environment that puts their health at risk.”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [390]
Citations
Cites
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States, 1999-2004
Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., McDowell, M. A., Tabak, C. J., & Flegal, K. M. (2006) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.295.13.1549 · Cited by 8,720
Trumbo, P., Schlicker, S., Yates, A. A., & Poos, M. (2002) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(02)90346-9 · Cited by 5,993
The United States Department of Agriculture
True, A. C. (1912) · The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science · doi:10.1177/000271621204000113 · Cited by 5,104
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in the United States
Crespo, C. J., & Smit, E. (2003) · Human Kinetics eBooks · doi:10.5040/9781718206601.ch-001 · Cited by 4,382
Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds
Foehr, U. G., Rideout, V. J., & Roberts, D. F. (2010) · Cited by 2,197
Food marketing to children and youth : threat or opportunity?
Youth, McGinnis, J. M., Gootman, J. A., & Kraak, V. I. (2006) · National Academies Press eBooks · Cited by 907
Born to buy: the commercialized child and the new consumer culture
(2005) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.43-1898 · Cited by 670
Most Americans Eat Much Less than Recommended Amounts of Fruits and Vegetables
Guenther, P. M., Dodd, K. W., Reedy, J., & Krebs‐Smith, S. M. (2006) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/j.jada.2006.06.002 · Cited by 629
Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Practitioners
Gidding, S. S., Dennison, B. A., Birch, L. L., Daniels, S. R., Gilman, M. W., Lichtenstein, A. H., Rattay, K. T., Steinberger, J., Stettler, N., & Horn, L. V. (2006) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.2005-2374 · Cited by 580
Borzekowski, D. L. G., & Robinson, T. N. (2001) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(01)00012-8 · Cited by 558
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 201–263 of 263
Media messages and eating disorders: Taste and price of a message
Forgács, A., Bóna, E., Csíkos, T., & Metercsik, H. (2018) · Society and Economy · doi:10.1556/204.2018.40.3.7 · Cited by 2
Blomquist, K. K., Schmalz, D. L., Pate, S. P., & Willmerdinger, A. (2020) · Journal of Eating Disorders · doi:10.1186/s40337-020-00335-y · Cited by 2
Mbae-Mugambi, U. K., Onyango, A. C., & Okeyo, D. O. (2023) · BMC Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s40795-023-00772-3 · Cited by 2
From choice to context: Rethinking food environments, consumer agency and policy action
Caputo, V. (2025) · European Review of Agricultural Economics · doi:10.1093/erae/jbaf041 · Cited by 2
Childers, C. C., & Hoy, M. G. (2012) · Journal of Food Products Marketing · doi:10.1080/10454446.2012.653780 · Cited by 2
“Much prior research has focused primarily on profiling via content analyses food advertising that targets children ( Contunga, 1988 ; Folta, Goldberg, Economos, Bell, & Meltzer, 2006 ; Harrison & Marske, 2005 ; Holt, Ipplolito, Desrochers, & Kelly, 2007 ; KFF, 2005; Kunkel & Gantz, 1992 ; Powell, Szczypka, Chaloupka,…”
Not Just Fun and Games: Toy Advertising on Television Targeting Children Promotes Sedentary Play
Kent, M. P., & Velkers, C. (2017) · Journal of Physical Activity and Health · doi:10.1123/jpah.2017-0044 · Cited by 2
The Association Between Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Child Obesity: Implications for US Policy
Momin, S. R., Duna, M., & Wood, A. C. (2019) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-816679-6.00014-0 · Cited by 3
Mealtime media use and cardiometabolic risk in children
Jamnik, J., Keown-Stoneman, C., Eny, K. M., Maguire, J. L., & Birken, C. S. (2020) · Public Health Nutrition · doi:10.1017/s1368980020003821 · Cited by 2
“energy-dense foods during mealtime may promote poor dietary habits(5,56,57).”
BackgroundWhat is the Potential for Exposure to Food Advertising?
Gunter, B. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40706-7_3 · Cited by 1
Physical Activity And Maternal/Fetal Outcomes In A Pregnant Latina Population
Gollenberg, A. (2021) · Scholarworks (University of Massachusetts Amherst) · doi:10.7275/5645472 · Cited by 1
Villalobos, A. C. (2011) · Redalyc (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México) · Cited by 1
Efecto de los comerciales de televisión en la escogencia y consumo de alimentos en los niños
Tucci, S. A. (2010) · Actualidad Contable FACES · Cited by 1
Villalobos, A. C. (1970) · Actualidades Investigativas en Educación · doi:10.15517/aie.v11i3.10215 · Cited by 1
Aspray, W. F., Royer, G. L., & Ocepek, M. G. (2014) · SpringerBriefs in food, health and nutrition · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-04966-3_3 · Cited by 1
Developmental Consumer Psychology
Chaplin, L. N., & Connell, P. M. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781107706552.007 · Cited by 1
Popkin, B. M., Rowe, J., Horn, L. V., Whitsel, L. P., Gidding, S. S., Lichtenstein, A. H., Faith, M. S., & Julie, A. (2009) · Cited by 1
Does Food Advertising Affect People’s Health and Well-Being?
Gunter, B. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-40706-7_6 · Cited by 1
Sultana, A., & Ahluwalia, S. (2016) · ADVANCE RESEARCH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE · doi:10.15740/has/arjss/7.2/279-283 · Cited by 1
Exposure to Food Advertising on Television, Food Choices and Childhood Obesity
Andreyeva, T., & Kelly, I. R. (2010) · Cited by 1
School-Level Socioeconomic Status and Nutrient Content of Outdoor Food/Beverage Advertisements
Ruggles, P. R., Thomas, J. E., Poulos, N. S., & Pasch, K. E. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20186730 · Cited by 1
“Similar to previous research [39], nutrient content information was primarily gathered using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), or through the product company website.”
BackgroundMethodLynch, L., McCarron, M., McCallion, P., & Burke, E. A. (2024) · Journal of Intellectual Disabilities · doi:10.1177/17446295241230578 · Cited by 1
“…be partially explained by exposure to the widespread advertising of unhealthy snack foods on TV which is suggested as further contributing to more food consumption in adults and children, especially in those who were overweight or obese (Powell et al, 2007; Harris et al, 2009; Kemps et al, 2014).”
Eriator, I. I., Ogiamien, E., & Dai, X. (2014) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1951-2_7 · Cited by 1
Bissell, K. L., Maxwell, L. C., Zhang, X., Bie, B., & McLemore, D. M. (2016) · Mass Communication & Society · doi:10.1080/15205436.2016.1274404 · Cited by 1
Brain, Environment, Hormone-Based Appetite, Ingestive Behavior, and Body Weight
Burger, K. S., Shearrer, G. E., & Gilbert, J. R. (2018) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-89506-2_13 · Cited by 1
Dissanayake, D. M. N. I., Seneviratne, N., Hansasara, L. A. D. S., Perera, L. D. N., & Jayasuriya, N. (2020) · International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences · doi:10.6007/ijarbss/v10-i5/7199 · Cited by 1
Childhood obesity prevention in the context of socio-economic status and migration
Magnusson, M. (2011) · Gothenburg University Publications Electronic Archive (Gothenburg University) · Cited by 1
Beloved bodies & forbidden Foods : media influence on body image and food intake
Anschütz, D. J. (2011) · Radboud Repository (Radboud University) · Cited by 1
Sargis, R. M., & Brady, M. (2010) · Perspectives in biology and medicine · doi:10.1353/pbm.2010.0016 · Cited by 1
Castonguay, J. S. (2014) · UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) · Cited by 1
Abbatangelo-Gray, J., Byrd‐Bredbenner, C., & Austin, S. B. (2010) · Topics in Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1097/tin.0b013e3181dbb82b · Cited by 1
Evaluating Nutrition Knowledge in Parents and Its Relation to Childhood Obesity
Shangraw, R. (2022) · doi:10.30707/etd2022.20220705065054408759.999965 · Cited by 1
Hood, K. (2012) · Digital Commons (Liberty University)
Experience, Knowledge, and Democracy: Television through a Deweyan Lens
Attick, D. (2022) · Digital Archive @ GSU · doi:10.57709/1060073
Análise da comunicação de marketing no varejo de alimentos no Município de São Paulo
Lemos, A. D. R. (2011) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/d.89.2011.tde-20122011-092310
Influence of nutrition literacy on college-age population’s dietary behavior
Song, X. (2014) · K-State Research Exchange (Kansas State University)
PELLAI, A., Nobile, M., & Luti, C. (2012) · Journal of Nutritional Therapeutics · doi:10.6000/1929-5634.2012.01.01.8
“Over the last twenty years, many studies [3-14] have been conducted in order to determinate how the exposure to food and beverage ads influences the eating habits of children and adolescents.”
BackgroundFor information on reprint requests of more than 101 and commercial reprints contact
Barbour, L. A., Cobin, R. H., DeGroot, L. J., Glinoer, D., Mandel, S. J., & Edwards, H. A. (2008)
A Review on Food and Beverages Advertisements on Television aimed at Children
Prathapan, S., Wijewardena, K., & Prathapan, R. (2014)
Harris, J. L., & Graff, S. K. (2012)
Horta, A., Alexandre, S., Trüninger, M., Teixeira, J., & da Silva, V. A. (2013) · Redalyc (Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México)
Children's reactivity to embedded food cues in advergames
Folkvord, F. (2016) · Radboud Repository (Radboud University)
Food and beverage advertising during children's television
Gorman, O. (2015)
The Influence of Weight Status on the Link between Television Viewing and Food Intake in Children
Borghese, M. M. (2014) · uO Research (University of Ottawa) · doi:10.20381/ruor-3727
“Food promotion is the most prevalent marketing category targeting children(Cairns et al., 2009), and the majority of food-product advertisements seen on television by children and adolescents are of poor nutritional content(Powell et al., 2007).”
BackgroundThe influence of eating cues on eating behaviors: moderation effect of self-focused attention
MinKyuRhee (2009) · Korean Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.17315/kjhp.2009.14.4.009
Cimadon, H. M. S., Geremia, R., & Pellanda, L. C. (2010)
Nurse and Teacher Led Adolescent Healthy Weight Classes to Improve Health Behaviors
Dupart, G. (2017) · Carolina Digital Repository (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) · doi:10.17615/knts-va95
Mecanismos de protección y prevención de las complicaciones de la obesidad en los adolescentes
Zavaleta, I. D. C., Olivares-Palacios, E., Olvera-Sosa, S., & Corona, A. E. J. (2019) · Educación y Salud Boletín Científico Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo · doi:10.29057/icsa.v8i15.5135
Descartes, L., & Goldman, J. A. (2021) · Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal · doi:10.1111/fcsr.12399
Avery, R. J., Brown, A. M. C., & Mathios, A. (2022) · Journal of Consumer Affairs · doi:10.1111/joca.12438
Adolescent Exposure to Food and Alcohol Advertising on TV in the U.S., 2013–2022
Powell, L. M., Leider, J., Schermbeck, R. M., & Harris, J. L. (2025) · AJPM Focus · doi:10.1016/j.focus.2025.100430
Self-citationBlomquist, K. K., Schmalz, D. L., Pate, S. P., & Willmerdinger, A. (2020) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.13186061
Babashahi, M., Omidvar, N., Joulaei, H., Zargaraan, A., Zayeri, F., Veisi, E., Doustmohammadian, A., & Kelishadi, R. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.15253795
Mbae-Mugambi, U. K., Onyango, A. C., & Okeyo, D. O. (2023) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.24264635
Babashahi, M., Omidvar, N., Joulaei, H., Zargaraan, A., Zayeri, F., Veisi, E., Doustmohammadian, A., & Kelishadi, R. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.15253792
Babashahi, M., Omidvar, N., Joulaei, H., Zargaraan, A., Zayeri, F., Veisi, E., Doustmohammadian, A., & Kelishadi, R. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.15253789
SAĞLIKLI BESLENME VE PAZARLAMA: WEB OF SCİENCE VERİ TABANININ BİBLİYOMETRİK ANALİZİ
Avan, V. B., & KAYACAN, İ. (2026) · Oğuzhan Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi · doi:10.55580/oguzhan.1805131
Unhealthy Food Television Advertising and Body Weight in Mexican Children
Alonso‐Bastida, A., Basto-Abreu, A. C., Reyes-Sánchez, F., Reyes-García, A., Carnalla, M., García, C. G., Tolentino‐Mayo, L., Carpentier, F. R. D., Rivera, J. A., & Barrientos‐Gutiérrez, T. (2026) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.31619
Budhathoki, N., Dahal, K., & Bhusal, U. (2026) · BioMed Research International · doi:10.1155/bmri/6298673
“Food marketing further reinforces these patterns by promoting highly palatable, calorie-rich foods through aggressive advertising, pricing strategies, and placement in easily accessible locations [44, 45].”
Metadata
- Authors
- Powell, L. M., Szczypka, G., Chaloupka, F. J., & Braunschweig, C. L.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Health Research and Policy and Departments of
- University of Illinois Chicago (US)
- Corresponding author
- Szczypka, Glen
- Venue
- Pediatrics
- Publisher
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Published
- 2007-09-01
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 576-583
- ISSN
- 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
- 1098-4275
- OpenAlex
- W2095947193
- Cited by
- 263
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 21.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
- Keywords
- television food advertising, adolescents, sugar content, saturated fat, sodium, fibers, cereal advertising, childhood obesity, media influence on eating behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Advertising, Child, Child, Preschool, Food, Humans, Nutritive Value, Television, United States
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
