Sugary, fatty, and prominent: food and beverage appearances in children's movies from 1991 to 2015

Abstract

Background: Media presentations of unhealthy food are considered a contributor to childhood obesity. Objective: This study describes food and beverage presentations in a longitudinal sample of children's movies. Methods: We conducted a content analysis of the 250 most successful children's movies from 1991 to 2015. We identified and coded food and beverage appearances and differentiated between healthy, mixed, and unhealthy products. We also coded integration characteristics and movie characteristics. Results: A total of 6414 references occurred. Out of these, 41.4% presented clearly unhealthy products. Furthermore, unhealthy products were more likely to be presented centrally, to be evaluated positively, to be interacted with, and to be consumed compared with healthy or mixed foods and beverages. Year and country of production as well as age rating did not have any effects on the appearance and integration of unhealthy products. Conclusions: The predominance of unhealthy foods and beverages in children's movies is a global and stable phenomenon that concerns children of all ages. Given the ways with which unhealthy foods and beverages are integrated into children's movies, their persuasive potential is much higher compared with healthy and mixed foods and beverages, thus potentially promoting factors that increase childhood obesity.