@Article{info:doi/10.2196/63410,
author="Karupaiah, Tilakavati
and Rahman, Shah Md Mahfuzur
and Zhang, Juan
and Kumar, Naveen
and Jamiyan, Batjargal
and Pokharel, Raj Kumar
and Borazon, Elaine Quintana
and Thoradeniya, Tharanga
and Tho, Nguyen Thi Thi
and Mackay, Sally
and Kelly, Bridget
and Swinburn, Boyd
and Chinna, Karuthan
and Dashzeveg, Enkhmyagmar
and Ong, Gild Rick
and Narayanan, Sreelakshmi Sankara
and Sameeha, Mohd Jamil
and Uddin, Mohammad Ahsan
and Tang, Yuxiang
and Sharma, Naresh Kumar
and Pokharel, Rishav
and Rome, Anna Christine
and Wickramasinghe, V Pujitha
and Huy, Phan Thanh",
title="Extent and Nature of Television Food and Nonalcoholic Beverage Marketing in 9 Asian Countries: Cross-Sectional Study Using a Harmonized Approach",
journal="JMIR Pediatr Parent",
year="2024",
month="Dec",
day="4",
volume="7",
pages="e63410",
keywords="children; Asian food marketing; television; unhealthy food; WHO nutrient profile model; World Health Organization; pediatrics; commercial; Asia; unhealthy; nutrition; diet; market; advertisement; food; beverage; consumption",
abstract="Background: Rising childhood obesity rates in Asia are adding risk for the future adult burden of obesity and noncommunicable diseases. Weak policies across most Asian countries enable unrestricted marketing of obesogenic foods and beverages to children. Television is the common medium for food marketing to reach this audience. Objective: This study aimed to assess the extent and nature of television food and nonalcoholic beverage marketing in 9 Asian countries (Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) with capacity building support from the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non-Communicable Disease Research, Monitoring and Action Support, who enabled harmonization of data collection method and content analyses. Methods: Advertised foods were categorized as permitted or not permitted based on the nutrient profile models established by the World Health Organization regional offices for South-East Asia (SEARO) and the World Health Organization regional offices for Western Pacific (WPRO). Overall rates of food advertisements (advertisements per hour per channel) and persuasive strategy use were analyzed along with comparisons between children's peak viewing time (PVT) and non-PVT. Results: Cross-country comparisons, irrespective of country income level, indicated that not permitted food advertising dominated children's popular television channels, especially during PVT with rates as per WPRO or SEARO criteria ranging from 2.40/2.29 (Malaysia) to 9.70/9.41 advertisements per hour per channel (the Philippines). Persuasive strategy rates were also comparatively higher during PVT. Sugar-sweetened beverages, sugar-containing solid foods, and high salt- and fat-containing snacks and fast foods were frequently advertised. Evaluation of the application of WPRO and SEARO nutrient profile models identified inconsistencies due to regional taste and cuisine variations across Asia. Conclusions: This study clearly showed that unhealthy food marketing through popular children's television channels is widely occurring in Asia and is a clear breach of child rights. Evidence outcomes will benefit advocacy toward stronger policy regulations to control unhealthy food marketing and strengthen strategies to promote a healthier food environment for Asia's children. ",
issn="2561-6722",
doi="10.2196/63410",
url="https://pediatrics.jmir.org/2024/1/e63410",
url="https://doi.org/10.2196/63410",
url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39630493"
}