What is the Potential for Exposure to Food Advertising?

Abstract

Before food marketing activities can influence consumers, and especially young consumers. Research studies have been conducted over more than 40 years on the prevalence of food advertising and other promotions in mainstream mass media and across various physical locations known to be frequented by children. This research has been international in scope and indicated that the widespread availability of food advertising is not restricted to one or two countries. What has also become clear from this research is that food advertising dominates advertising in media such as television, especially at times of the day when lots of children are known to be in the audience. Furthermore, the foods that are advertised most tend to be those of lower nutritional quality. Thus, there are plentiful opportunities for children to be exposed to promotional messages and campaigns for poor quality foods that are known to contribute to weight gain and other health problems.