Health Promotion International Advance Access originally published online on February 18, 2005
Health Promotion International 2005 20(2):105-112; doi:10.1093/heapro/dah601
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Food advertising on Australian television: the extent of children's exposure
NSW Public Health Officer Training Program and 1Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Advancement, NSW Department of Health, Australia and 2NSW Centre for Physical Activity and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia
Address for correspondence: Leonie Neville, Public Health Training and Development Branch, NSW Department of Health, LMB 961, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia E-mail: lnevi{at}doh.health.nsw.gov.au
The objective of this study was to investigate the extent and nature of food advertising during Australian children's television (TV) viewing hours and programs, and to determine whether confectionery and fast food restaurant advertisements were more likely to be broadcast during children's programs than during adults' programs on Sydney television stations. One week (390 h) of Australian advertising data broadcast during children's TV viewing hours over 15 television stations were analysed to determine the proportion of food advertisements and, in turn, the proportion of those advertisements promoting foods high in fat and/or sugar. One week (346 h) of confectionery and fast food restaurant advertisements broadcast over three Sydney television stations were analysed to determine whether these types of advertisements were more likely to be advertised during children's programs than adults' programs. Half of all food advertisements promoted foods high in fat and/or sugar. ‘Confectionery’ and ‘fast food restaurants’ were the most advertised food categories during children's TV viewing hours. Confectionery advertisements were three times as likely, and fast food restaurant advertisements twice as likely, to be broadcast during children's programs than adults' programs. It can be concluded that foods most advertised during children's viewing hours are not those foods that contribute to a healthy diet for children. Confectionery and fast food restaurant advertising appears to target children. Australian children need protection from the targeted promotion of unhealthy foods on television, but currently little exists.
Key words: children; food advertising; obesity; television
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  B. Kelly and K. Chapman Food references and marketing to children in Australian magazines: a content analysis Health Promot. Int., December 1, 2007; 22(4): 284 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Chapman, P. Nicholas, D. Banovic, and R. Supramaniam The extent and nature of food promotion directed to children in Australian supermarkets Health Promot. Int., December 1, 2006; 21(4): 331 - 339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. Chapman, P. Nicholas, and R. Supramaniam How much food advertising is there on Australian television? Health Promot. Int., September 1, 2006; 21(3): 172 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|