Blurred Lines: The food marketing landscape and its effect on children's health

The food and beverage industry spends nearly $2 billion annually marketing to children.  A body of compelling evidence shows that the marketing of high-calorie and nutrition-poor foods to children and adolescents increases their risk of unhealthy weight gain and contributes to poor diet and related health outcomes. As a result, the widespread marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children and youth is a major public health concern.

Industry self-regulation, over the last decade, has resulted in positive progress forward, however unhealthy food marketing practices persist and remain prevalent. Many self-regulatory policies do not cover all the marketing strategies used to promote products to children and some companies do not have marketing policies at all.

This presentation will provide an overview of food marketing landscape and its effect on children's diets and health. The information presented will include the amount of food marketing targeted to children; marketing techniques and media platforms used; products marketed; and the impact of marketing on children's diets.