Like their American counterparts, Australian teens are under siege from junk food marketing. In fact, research recently found that children ages 13 to 17 are exposed to an estimated 17 promotional food ads per viewing hour! On average, you can expect to see almost 170 food ads every week! Public health experts want to know how these ads are impacting your food choices and overall health.
Asad Khan conducted a very thorough investigation. For their study, they analyzed data from 223,000 adolescents aged 13 to 14 in 41 countries. Findings suggest that young people are particularly vulnerable to the marketing strategies employed by food companies, especially those promoting sugary and highly processed foods. When eaten in large quantities, these foods are connected to a host of chronic diseases.
The Appeal of Junk Food Marketing
Dr. Hanson, a prominent researcher in the field, emphasizes that the design of these advertisements is intentionally appealing to young audiences. The siren song of flashy packaging, social media ads, and influencer culture produce a seductive backstory that attracts and hooks teenagers.
“When influencers promote a food or drink, even subtly, it carries a lot of weight.” – Miriam Raleigh
Like adults, young people don’t always see these marketing ploys for the sneaky schemes that they are. Dr. Hanson points out that “this kind of marketing is especially effective because it doesn’t feel like marketing. That makes it harder to recognise, and harder to resist.”
For teens who actively interact with food content on social media, they’ll soon be bombarded with even more. This behavior makes for a never-ending cycle of exposure and temptation. The implications of this high level of bombardment are frightening, especially since the brain continues to develop all the way up until people are in their mid-twenties. Regions that govern impulse control, decision-making, and evaluating risk are still especially vulnerable during these years.
Health Risks Linked to Poor Dietary Choices
According to paediatric dietitian Miriam Raleigh, the consumption of sugary and processed foods has serious health implications for growing adolescents. She cautions that these foods provide very little nutritional benefit and increase risk for chronic diseases over time.
“Sugary foods and highly processed foods contain little nutritional value for children and teens’ growing bodies.” – Miriam Raleigh
Along with exercise, Raleigh asserts that a diet filled with whole foods is vital for protecting and improving mental health. She explains that “a diet rich in wholefoods — not those found in packets — is important for good mental health.” We know that diet has an enormous impact on mental wellness. Nutrient-dense whole foods are the foundation to achieving proper physical and mental growth.
Australian researchers are at the helm of a large international study that forecasts some pretty grim stuff in the years to come. By 2050, nearly 1 in 2 Australian children and young people (5-24 years) will be overweight or obese. This highlights the crucial need for prevention efforts to address the dangers of junk food consumption for adolescents.
Call for Regulation on Junk Food Advertising
Junk food marketing in Australia is largely self-regulated. In a wave of leadership, South Australia recently banned junk food ads on public transport. Dr. Hanson’s research supports stricter government regulations regarding junk food marketing on social media platforms.
“The current regulations, voluntary industry codes, don’t hold up in the digital space.” – Dr. Hanson
He says it’s not fair to expect channeled creativity and emotional appeal to be something young people should have to defend themselves against. “These are highly skilled marketers using proven techniques to influence behaviour,” he asserts. Education and social media literacy can only go so far, but come on — when you are subjected to the millions of dollars in advertising for unhealthy food, it makes you crave and desire it.
As Professor Asad Khan notes, the issue is compounded by teenagers’ impulsive use of social media. This type of behavior contributes to dietary risk factors such as skipping breakfast and excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
“What we found is that the mindless [and excessive] use of social media is more problematic,” he explains.
