Fast-food restaurants are spending more marketing to Black and Hispanic youth. Read on to learn more about how this strategy is slowing down the fight against childhood obesity. Nurses General Nursing News
Childhood obesity is a major problem in the U.S. and the pandemic has made healthy eating even harder. A recent study found kids are now eating more pizza, burgers, fries and other fast-food items than in previous years. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, more than a whopping third of U.S. kids and teens eat fast food on any given day.
Research has shown a strong link between childhood obesity rates and increases in fast-food advertisement. New research, recently published by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut, found fast-food advertising has really changed over the past few years. The full study details, published in Fast Food FACTS 2021, can be accessed here.
Researchers reviewed Neilson data to determine how 274 fast-food restaurants spent their advertising dollars and how often kids were exposed to the ad campaigns. Data from the top 27 fast-food advertisers was also analyzed to better understand how they targeted white, Hispanic and Black consumers under the age of 18. The researchers analysis included:
The fast-food industry has made changes to help address the problem of poor diets among U.S. children and teens. These changes include:
The study findings shed light on the question “Has advertising to youth changed and if restaurants are now advertising healthier menu items?”.
Researchers found that over the 8 year study period, no significant improvements were made in advertising targeting children or to Hispanic and Black youth. Key findings from 2012 to 2019 include:
Data analysis revealed restaurants did not live up to their pledge of promoting healthier foods. High-calorie menu items continued to be promoted in ads geared to children in teens. For example:
Other study findings found restaurants need to do a much better job of advertising healthy menu options to kids, teens and minority communities. Findings include:
The study report identified ways the fast-food industry advertise to youth more responsibly. Here are a few recommendations:
All of the study’s recommendations can be found here.
How have you seen fast-food advertising impacting our youth negatively over the past year?
References
Fast food equity problem: Black and Hispanic youth unfairly targeted by ads