Study Reveals: Just 5 Minutes of Unhealthy Food Ads Boosts Kids’ Calorie Intake

Children tend to eat more after seeing junk food ads. A study presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga reveals that just five minutes of such advertising can lead kids to consume about 130 extra calories. That’s roughly equivalent to two slices of bread!

In the study, kids aged 7 to 15 were shown ads featuring foods high in sugar, salt, and fat. Researchers found that these children consumed an additional 58 calories in snacks and 73 calories during lunch after watching the ads. This increase happened whether they viewed specific product ads or general fast food promotions. Notably, the type of advertising—whether it was social media posts, videos, or even posters—didn’t matter.

Emma Boyland, a professor of Food Marketing and Child Health at the University of Liverpool, noted, “Children don’t just eat more immediately after food advertising; they eat more hours later, too.” The snacks offered were not the same as those shown in the ads, and the kids weren’t influenced by specific brand names.

This kind of study underscores a growing concern about the impact of advertising on children’s eating habits. In recent years, researchers have called for stricter regulations on junk food marketing aimed at kids. According to the American Heart Association, about one in five children in the U.S. faces obesity, in part due to high-calorie diets promoted through advertising.

Furthermore, as schools and food banks have been affected by recent budget cuts, the relevance of this study becomes even more pronounced. As the U.S. Department of Agriculture scales back programs that support local food purchases for schools, kids may have even less access to healthier options.

In summary, this study highlights the significant influence of junk food ads on children’s eating patterns. With increasing rates of childhood obesity, it brings to light the urgent need for measures to protect children from such marketing tactics.

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