Investigating the obesogenic effects of marketing snacks with toys: an experimental study in Latin America

Nutrition Journal

Javier Dibildox⁵  Neila Maria Almedia Da Silva⁸  Ignacio Amador⁶  Laura Franchin²  Rogenia de Sousa Alves²  Giulia Stefanini²  Adriana Casella³  Claudia Elena Gafare⁷  Simonetta Ballali⁴  Dario Gregori¹ 

[1] Department of Cardiac, Tharacic and Vascular Science, Unit of Biostatisticsm, Epidemiology and Public Health, Via Loredan, 18, 35121, Padova, Italy;ZETA Research Ltd., Trieste, Italy;Ramos Mejia Psychology Center, Buenos Aires, Argentina;Prochild ONLUS, Trieste, Italy;University San Louis Potosì, San Louis, Potosì, Mexico;Instituto Cuarto Centenario, San Louis, Potosì, Mexico;Department of Nutrition, University of Buenos Aires and Food and Diet Therapy Service, Acute General Hospital Juan A. Fernández, Buenos Aires, Argentina;Escola Municipal de Ensino Infantil e Fundamental Odilon Braveza, Fortaleza, Brazil

关键词: Ad libitum eating studies;    TV advertising;    TV exposure;    Obesogenic environment;    Toys for marketing food;   

Others  :  806275
DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2891-12-95

 received in 2012-09-26, accepted in 2013-07-08,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

The inclusion of toys in food packages is a common marketing practice, and it is suspected of promoting obesogenic behaviours. This study aimed to determine whether toys packaged with food are indeed increasing the amount of food eaten by children, and if this effect is enhanced by contemporary exposure to TV and/or advertising.

Methods

A total of 600 children (balanced according to gender and age groups, 3–6 and 7–10 years old) were randomized in three school facilities in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico and exposed to food (snacks) alone or food associated with toys in an experimental setting. All of the children received the same meal at lunchtime. The products were packages in which chocolate was associated with toys in an egg-shaped container partially filled by chocolate. The children were asked to eat ad libitum for 20 minutes during the afternoon break. In addition, the children were randomized into two groups and either shown or not shown a movie cartoon, with three different levels of exposure to commercials in the TV viewing condition (1, 2 or 3 advertisements).

Results

No significant differences emerged between the “toys” and “no toys” groups even after taking into account exposure to TV, commercials and other confounding factors.

Conclusions

The inclusion of toys in food packages was not shown per se to lead to an increase in the caloric intake of children.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Gregori et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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