Analysis of television food advertising on children's programming on "free-to-air" broadcast stations in Brazil / Analise dos alimentos anunciados durante a programacao infantil em emissoras de canal aberto no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the content of television food advertising on Brazilian 'free-to-air' broadcast stations during children's programming. METHODS: This is a descriptive study which evaluated the content of food advertising between 08:00 a.m. and 06:00 p.m. on three Brazilian 'free-to-air' broadcast stations (A, B and C). Data collection was performed during 10 week days and weekends. Food advertising was organized according to the food group classification from the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population. The annual exposure to food advertising was obtained considering the national children average exposure to television of five daily hours. The χ2 and Fisher's exact test were conducted in order to identify differences in the content of television advertising in the morning and in the afternoon and between broadcast stations. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty six hours of programming were recorded, totalizing 1,369 commercials - 13.8% of food. There was major participation of 'sugars and sweets' (48.1%) and 'oils and fats' (29.1%) among food advertising and much food publicity in the afternoon (15.7%; morning: 12.2%, p = 0.037). Moreover, the broadcast with more audience was the one that advertised more food (A: 63.5%; B: 12.2%; C: 24.3%), especially 'sugar and sweets' (A: 59.2%; B: 43.5%; C: 21.7%). Finally, an annual average exposure to 2,735.5 commercials was obtained for Brazilian children, totalizing 2,106.3 of food rich in sugar and fat publicity. CONCLUSION: Food advertising is focused on poor nutritionally food, emphasizing the need for specific intervention strategies. .

OBJETIVO: Analisar os tipos de alimentos veiculados em propagandas da televisão aberta brasileira durante a programação infantil. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo com avaliação do conteúdo das propagandas veiculadas entre 08h00 min e 18h00 min em três emissoras brasileiras de televisão de canal aberto (A, B e C). A coleta de dados foi realizada durante 10 dias de semana e finais de semana. As propagandas de alimentos foram classificadas segundo os grupos alimentares do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira e obteve-se a exposição anual às propagandas de alimentos, considerando a média nacional de exposição de crianças a cinco horas diárias à televisão. Os testes χ2 ou Exato de Fisher foram conduzidos no intuito de identificar as diferenças do conteúdo das propagandas televisivas nos turnos manhã e tarde e entre as emissoras. RESULTADOS: Foram gravadas 126 horas de programação, totalizando 1.369 propagandas, sendo 13,8% de alimentos. Verificou-se predominância de anúncio de produtos pertencentes aos grupos dos "açúcares e doces" (48,1%) e "óleos, gorduras e sementes oleaginosas" (29,1%). Observou-se maior publicidade dos alimentos no período da tarde (15,7%; manhã: 12,2%; p = 0,037). Ademais, a emissora de maior audiência foi a que mais veiculou propagandas de alimentos (A: 63,5%; B: 12,2%; C: 24,3%), sobretudo alimentos ricos em açúcares e doces (A: 59,2%; B: 43,5%; C: 21,7%). Por fim, obteve-se média de exposição anual de crianças brasileiras a 2.737,5 propagandas de alimentos, sendo 2.106,3 ricos em açúcares e gorduras. CONCLUSÃO: A publicidade de alimentos se concentra em produtos pobres nutricionalmente, denotando a necessidade de estratégias de intervenção específicas. .

Food advertising and television exposure: influence on eating behavior and nutritional status of children and adolescents

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of food advertising and television exposure on eating behaviour and nutritional status of children and adolescents. It was a cross sectional study developed among 116 students from a private school in Brazil. Socio-demographic and health conditions were evaluated. Anthropometric data, food consumption, physical activity, television viewing habits and behaviour in relation to food advertising were also investigated. Among the results, a 1:2 relationship was identified between the number of televisions and residents per household. Excessive weight was present in 25.8% of subjects and 66.4% of children watched television while eating. Children were exposed to television for a median of 3.0 hours daily (95% CI: 2.9 to 3.6). There was a direct association between attraction to foods advertised and purchasing the product (p<0.001) and a positive relationship between the number of televisions per household and body weight (r=0.246, p=0.015) and the amount of liquid consumed during meals (r=0.277, p=0.013). Findings also highlighted the association between watching television while eating and the reduced probability of fruit consumption (p=0.032), contrasted with a greater likelihood of daily artificial juice intake (p=0.039). In conclusion, watching television is associated with lower probability of daily consumption of fruits and the number of television at household is positively related to BMI in children and adolescents.

Publicidad de los alimentos y la exposición a la televisión: Influencia sobre la conducta alimentaria y el estado nutricional de los niños y adolescentes. El estudio objetivó evaluar la influencia de la publicidad de alimentos y la exposición a la televisión en la conducta alimentaria y estado nutricional de niños y adolescentes. El estudio es transversal con 116 estudiantes de una escuela privada en Brasil. Información sociodemográfica y de la condición de salud fueron evaluadas. Antropometria, el consumo de alimentos, practica de actividad física, hábitos de ver la televisión y el comportamiento en relación con la publicidad de alimentos también fueron investigados. Entre los resultados, una relación de 1:2 fue identificada entre el número de televisores por hogar y los residentes. El exceso de peso estaba presente en 25,8% de los sujetos y 66,4% de ellos veían la televisión mientras comían las refecciones. Los niños fueron expuestos a la televisión por un promedio de 3,0 horas al día (95% IC: 2,9-3,6). Se observó una asociación directa entre la atracción de los alimentos anunciados y la compra del producto (p<0,001) y una relación positiva entre el número de televisores por hogar y el peso corporal (r=0,246; p=0,015) y la cantidad de liquido consumido durante las refecciones (r=0,277; p=0,013). Los resultados presentó la asociación entre ver la televisión mientras se alimenta y la probabilidad de reducción del consumo de frutas (p=0,032), en contraste con una mayor probabilidad de consumo de jugo artificial (p=0,039). En conclusión, ver la televisión en demasiado se asocia con una menor probabilidad de consumo diario de frutas y el numero de televisores en el hogar se relaciona positivamente con el índice de masa corporal.