Teenagers who watch hours of commercial television – with advertising breaks – tend to snack on large amounts of junk food and drink, according to a major UK analysis today.
Researchers found that television viewing of channels without adverts, such as the BBC or Netflix, was not associated with junk food consumption.
The findings led to a renewal of calls for new restrictions on food and drink advertising on television.
The findings, released by Cancer Research UK, are based on a YouGov survey of 3,348 11 to 19-year-olds.
Researcher Dr Jyotsna Vohra said the current advertising restrictions were “seriously out of date.”
Dr Vohra said: “This is the strongest evidence yet that junk food adverts could increase how much teens choose to eat. We’re not claiming that every teenager who watches commercial TV will gorge on junk food but this research suggests there is a strong association between advertisements and eating habits.”
Professor Russell Viner, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “This research appears to be the biggest UK study of its kind and, although the research was only a snapshot at one time point, its findings further supports the link between advertising and junk food consumption.
“Obesity is draining money from the NHS and is taking away childhoods thanks to the life changing conditions that are associated with it.
“It’s time our young people worried about being children again and not the aches and pains of joints, about their body image or about risks associated with their high blood pressure or diabetes.”
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