A new study, published by American publication Pediatrics, has revealed that TV commercials truly affect the snacking habits of kids aged two to five, even when they’re not hungry.
The 60 children surveyed were divided into two groups and exposed to a 14-minute TV program complete with food ads while having unlimited access to two snack products. One was the food advertised, corn chips, and researchers found that the group who saw more of those ads ate more corn chips.
“Findings suggest that food advertisement exposure may encourage obesogenic-eating behaviours among the very young,” the report concluded.
