Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Food Items Preferred by Adolescents under the Influence of Television Advertisements

Background: Food and beverage advertisements on television play a significant role in food preferences,especially among children and adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate foods and beverages advertisedon television and purchased by adolescents or their families using the World Health Organization (WHO)nutrient profiling model.Study design: A cross-sectional study.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۲,۶۹۹ students (۱۳۸۰ males and ۱۳۱۹ females) aged۱۱-۱۶ in Ankara, Turkey, in ۲۰۱۵. Socio-demographic characteristics, television-viewing habits, and thetendency to purchase foods and beverages under the influence of TV advertisements were recorded. Thebody weight and height were measured by the researchers. All reported food and beverage items (n = ۲۸۴)were evaluated and classified as permitted or not permitted to advertise, according to the WHO nutrientprofile model (۲۰۱۵).Results: The majority (۶۹.۸%) of students were underweight/normal weight, whereas ۱۳.۳% and ۱۶.۹%were classified as overweight and obese, respectively. A total of ۶۹.۶% of adolescents declared that theywere influenced by food advertisements, and ۶۶.۴% bought those foods. The most purchased productsincluded cakes and sweet biscuits (۶۳.۸%), chocolate and confectionery (۴۴.۹%), savory snacks (۳۹.۶%),and soft drinks (۲۵.۴%). Only ۸.۵% of all the advertised products (n = ۲۸۴) were permitted to be advertised,according to the WHO nutrient profile model (۲۰۱۵). Dairy products, meat products, grains, fruits andvegetables, soup, and some traditional Turkish foods (e.g., cig kofte and Turkish pizza) were permitted.The permitted products were preferred by only ۱۳.۶% of the adolescents.Conclusions: Unhealthy foods are advertised on television for adolescents, and food advertisementmanagement may be an essential strategy to provide healthy food choices.

Keywords:

Advertisements , Adolescent , Food , Television , World Health Organization