Published: September 2019

ID #: 73389

Journal: Journal of School Health

Authors: Polacsek M, Boninger F, Molnar A, O'Brien LM

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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.

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