Sign in Subscribe
Youth

Soda Advertising Targets US Children and Teenagers, Increasing Obesity Rates

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A study released on Monday found that children and teenagers in the US are exposed to far more soda advertising than before, with black and Hispanic children being major targets. The report, from the Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, also found that many fruit drinks and energy drinks popular with teenagers have as much added sugar and calories as full-calorie soda. Children's and teens' exposure to full-calorie soda ads on television doubled from 2008 to 2010, fueled by increases from Coca-Cola Co and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. Black children and teens saw 80 to 90 percent more ads than white children, including twice as many for the energy drink 5-Hour Energy and Coca-Cola's vitamin water and Sprite.

Key Takeaways:

  • Children's and teens' exposure to full-calorie soda ads on television doubled from 2008 to 2010, increasing from 10.2 to 20.4 ads per 100 children and teens per day.
  • Black children and teens saw 80 to 90 percent more ads than white children, including twice as many for the energy drink 5-Hour Energy and Coca-Cola's vitamin water and Sprite.
  • Hispanic children saw 49 percent more ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks on Spanish-language television, and Hispanic teens saw 99 percent more ads.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 15 percent of children are overweight or obese.
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics says highly caffeinated energy drinks are not appropriate for children and adolescents.
  • A study found that 21 sugary drink brands had YouTube channels in 2010 with more than 229 million views by June 2011.
  • Coca-Cola was the most popular brand on Facebook, with more than 30 million fans.

Statistics:

  • Children's and teens' exposure to full-calorie soda ads on television doubled from 2008 to 2010, increasing from 10.2 to 20.4 ads per 100 children and teens per day.
  • Black children and teens saw 80 to 90 percent more ads than white children, with an average of 24.6 ads per 100 children and teens per day, compared to 13.6 ads per 100 white children and teens per day.
  • Hispanic children saw 49 percent more ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks on Spanish-language television, and Hispanic teens saw 99 percent more ads.

Sources:

  • Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Nielsen
  • I Media LLC
  • Albawaba.com

Read more