Dataset Information

The Impact on Dietary Outcomes of Celebrities and Influencers in Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT: Celebrities, including influencers, are commonly used to market products that are high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) to children but the impact on dietary outcomes has been unclear. The primary aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and quantify the impact of celebrities in HFSS marketing on children's dietary outcomes. We searched eight databases and included studies from all countries and languages published from 2009 until August 2021. Participants were defined as under 16 years, exposure was marketing for HFSS products with a celebrity, and the outcomes were dietary preference, purchasing behaviors, and consumption of HFSS products. We were able to conduct a meta-analysis for consumption outcomes. Seven articles met the inclusion criteria, of which three were included in the meta-analysis. Under experimental conditions, the use of celebrities in HFSS marketing compared to non-food marketing was found to significantly increase consumption of the marketed HFSS product by 56.4 kcals (p = 0.021). There was limited evidence on the impact on preference or purchase intentions and on the comparisons between use and non-use of celebrities and influencers.

SUBMITTER: Packer J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8837952 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Impact on Dietary Outcomes of Celebrities and Influencers in Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Packer Jessica J Russell Simon J SJ Siovolgyi Gabriela G McLaren Katie K Stansfield Claire C Viner Russell M RM Croker Helen H

Nutrients 20220119 3

Celebrities, including influencers, are commonly used to market products that are high in fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) to children but the impact on dietary outcomes has been unclear. The primary aim of this study was to systematically review the literature and quantify the impact of celebrities in HFSS marketing on children's dietary outcomes. We searched eight databases and included studies from all countries and languages published from 2009 until August 2021. Participants were defined as unde ...[more]

PMID: 35276800

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Project description:BackgroundMarketing of unhealthy foods to children on digital media significantly impacts their dietary preferences and contributes to diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Canadian children spend a significant amount of time on digital devices and are frequently exposed to unhealthy food marketing on social media, including by influencers with celebrity status who endorse products. This study aimed to examine the frequency, healthfulness, and power of unhealthy food marketing in posts by influencers popular with Canadian children on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.MethodsThe top 9 influencers popular amongst Canadian children aged 10-12 years were identified from the 2021 International Food Policy Study Youth Survey. A total of 2,232 Instagram, YouTube and TikTok posts made by these influencers between June 1st 2021 and May 31st 2022 were examined for instances of food marketing. Food products/brands were identified and frequencies were calculated for the number of posts promoting food products/brands, posts promoting products/brands classified as less healthy according to Health Canada's Nutrient Profile Model (2018) and marketing techniques utilized.ResultsYouTube had the highest average rate of food marketing instances per post, at a rate of 1 food marketing instance every 0.7 posts, while TikTok and Instagram had instances every 10.2 posts and 19.3 posts, respectively. Overall, fast food restaurants was the most promoted food category (21%), followed by regular soft drinks (13%), snacks (11%), candy and chocolate (11%) and water (8%). The most frequently used marketing techniques were appeals to fun/cool (37%), the use of songs or music (28%) and the product being consumed (25%). In terms of healthfulness, 83% of the products/brands (87% of brands and 82% of products) promoted were classified as less healthy.ConclusionsSocial media influencers play a substantial role in promoting unhealthy food products to children, primarily fast food items. Given the significant impact of such marketing on children, there is a need for ongoing government-led monitoring, and it is crucial to include social media and influencer marketing in marketing restrictions targeting children in Canada to safeguard this vulnerable demographic.

Project description:BackgroundMarketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars, or salt ("unhealthy foods") to children is contributing to increasing child obesity. However, many countries have not implemented WHO recommendations to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods to children. We sought to understand the absence of marketing restrictions and identify potential strategic actions to develop and implement such restrictions in Nepal.MethodsEighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was based on Baker et al.'s 18 factor-framework for understanding what drives political commitment to nutrition, organised by five categories: Actors; Institutions; Political and societal contexts; Knowledge, evidence and framing; Capacities and resources.ResultsAll factors in Baker et al.'s framework were reported to be acting largely as barriers to Nepal developing and implementing marketing restrictions. Six factors were identified by the highest number of respondents: the threat of private sector interference in policy-making; lack of international actor support; absence of well-designed and enacted policies and legislation; lack of political commitment to regulate; insufficient mobilisation of existing evidence to spur action and lack of national evidence to guide regulatory design; and weak implementation capacity. Opportunities for progress were identified as Nepal's ability to combat private sector interference - as previously demonstrated in tobacco control.ConclusionsThis is the first study conducted in Nepal examining the lack of restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children. Our findings reflect the manifestation of power in the policy process. The absence of civil society and a multi-stakeholder coalition demanding change on marketing of unhealthy food to children, the threat of private sector interference in introducing marketing restrictions, the promotion of norms and narratives around modernity, consumption and the primary role of the individual in regulating diet - all have helped create a policy vacuum on marketing restrictions. We propose that stakeholders focus on five strategic actions, including: developing a multi-stakeholder coalition to put and keep marketing restrictions on the health agenda; framing the need for marketing restrictions as critical to protect child rights and government regulation as the solution; and increasing support, particularly through developing more robust global policy guidance.

Project description:BackgroundThere has been relatively little research on youth's exposure to food marketing on digital media, which is important as new digital platforms emerge and youth spend more time online. Evidence evaluating different policy approaches to restricting digital food marketing to children is also limited. This study examined differences in self-reported exposure to digital food marketing between children and adolescents in different policy environments: Ontario (where food marketing is self-regulated) and Quebec (where advertising is government regulated).MethodsAn observational cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2023 among children (aged 10-12 years) and adolescents (13-17 years) from Ontario and Quebec, recruited by Leger Marketing. Participants self-reported their frequency of exposure to food marketing via various digital platforms and marketing techniques. Logistic regression and proportional odds models examined differences in exposure by province and age group, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and digital device usage.ResultsThe odds of reporting more frequent exposure to marketing of sugary drinks (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.69), sugary cereals (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.86), salty/savoury snacks (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.47, 0.96), fast food (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.92), and desserts/sweet treats (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.78) were lower among Quebec children than Ontario children. Quebec children were less likely than Ontario children (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.38, 0.84), but more likely than Quebec adolescents (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.42), to report exposure to unhealthy food marketing on one or more gaming/TV/music streaming platform/website(s). Compared with Ontario children, Quebec children were less likely to report exposure to marketing featuring characters or child/teenage actors (OR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.76), child-appealing subjects, themes and language (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.89), and visual design, audio and special effects (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.99), and to report exposure to a greater number of marketing techniques (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.43, 0.84).ConclusionsExposure to unhealthy food marketing on digital media is high for youth from Ontario and Quebec, particularly for Ontario children. These findings reinforce the need for federal regulations to protect Canadian youth from unhealthy food marketing on digital media.

Dataset Information

The Impact on Dietary Outcomes of Celebrities and Influencers in Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Publications

The Impact on Dietary Outcomes of Celebrities and Influencers in Marketing Unhealthy Foods to Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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