Television marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children in Australia: a review of published evidence from 2009

Smithers LG, Lynch JW, Merlin T
Record ID 32013000043
English
Authors' objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of current evidence to: 1. Examine the amount of advertising of non-core foods to children on Australian television a) during children's peak viewing time (PVT) b) according to program classifications 2. Examine changes in the amount of non-core food advertising during children's television programs since the introduction of the industry's voluntary self-regulation initiatives (the RCMI and the QSRI) 3. Contrast non-core food advertising during children's television programs between signatories and non-signatories to the industry initiatives.
Authors' recommendations: While recent data suggests there is negligible non-core food advertising during C-rated programs, many children are exposed to advertisements while viewing programs with other classifications. Estimates of children's exposure to non-core food advertisements during their peak viewing times vary from 0.7 to 6.5 per hour. Furthermore, non-core foods comprise a higher percentage of all food advertisements than core foods, highlighting the relative preponderance of these foods advertised on television. Since the introduction of the RCMI and QSRI, the rate of advertising of non-core foods during children's PVT has always been higher among signatories compared with non-signatories. Finally, recent evidence highlights multiple breaches of the industry initiatives and of the Children's Television Standards.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2012
URL for published report: Not Available
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Australia
MeSH Terms
  • Television
  • Food Industry
  • Child
  • Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Australia
Contact
Organisation Name: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment
Contact Address: School of Public Health, Mail Drop 545, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, AUSTRALIA, Tel: +61 8 8313 4617
Contact Name: ahta@adelaide.edu.au
Contact Email: ahta@adelaide.edu.au
Copyright: Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.