One promising approach to influence nutrition behavior is to limit food and beverage marketing to children. Children are a lucrative market and schools may be an effective setting in which to intervene. Studies have shown that marketing in schools is prevalent but little is known about digital marketing to students in the school setting. Researchers used an online survey to assess digital marketing environments in a national sample of middle schools. The findings demonstrate that students are exposed to marketing through school-issued devices (i.e., laptops, tablets). Gaps in school district, school, and classroom policy and practice lead to student exposure to food and beverage marketing. These data point to actionable policy and practice change at the school district, individual school, and classroom levels that could help limit unwanted and harmful food and beverage marketing to youth.
Published: September 2019
ID #: 73389
Journal: Journal of School Health
Authors: Polacsek M, Boninger F, Molnar A, O'Brien LM
Keywords: Digital marketing, School wellness policies, Sugar-sweetened beverages
Focus Areas: Food Marketing, School & After School
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: National
Age Group: Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Related Research
February 2016
Assessing Digital Food and Beverage Marketing in Middle Schools Nationally to Inform Policy to Restrict Marketers’ Access to Children
This study aims to assess school digital marketing environments in a national sample of middle schools to identify opportunities and barriers to limit school-based marketing. This team previously developed a survey to assess digital marketing in schools as part of a previous HER-funded grant which will be used in this study. The specific aims of MoreFebruary 2023
Rapid Health Impact Assessment on Changes to School Nutrition Standards to Align with 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The national school breakfast and lunch programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are cornerstone federal nutrition assistance programs. School meals are one of the healthiest sources of foods for school-age children, which is significant as some children receive up to half of their daily calories at school. Policy opportunities in 2023 MoreNovember 2022