Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
Assessment of Social Transmission of Food Preferences Behaviors
Published on: January 25, 2018
A content analysis of food references in television programming specifically targeting viewing audiences aged 11 to
Mary G Roseman1, Morgan Poor2, Tammy J Stephenson3
1Department of Nutrition and Hospitality Management, School of Applied Sciences, University of Mississippi, University, MS.
Objective:
Examine food in cable television programming specifically targeting 11- to 14-year-olds ("tweens").
Design:
Content analysis of food-related scenes (FRS)-in which food was shown, mentioned, and/or consumed-in 880 minutes of programming was conducted.
Setting:
Five days of afternoon/early evening television programs on the Disney Channel.
Main Outcome Measures And Analysis:
Food references were compared with USDA MyPlate and classified according to modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components.
Results:
The authors found 331 FRS, averaging 16.6 scenes/h. Preponderance of FRS was physiological needs (40.7%), followed by display (10%), party (8.5%), social event (8%), and retail store (6.6%). Snacks dominated 41% of FRS, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner were much lower in frequency. Half of FRS was visual only, followed by verbal only. Food references were not congruent with MyPlate recommendations; 42% of food items did not fit into MyPlate food groups. Only 24% of food items were fruit or vegetables, which is considerably less than recommended by MyPlate guidelines. Using modified Ratio of Recommended to Restricted Food Components, 66% of food items scored < 1.0, signifying less nutritious.
Conclusions And Implications:
Tween television programming regularly includes non-nutritious food, which likely influences tweens' attitudes and behaviors. Television programming may consider past approaches to tobacco smoking and health messages on television. More attention is warranted regarding television programming by nutrition educators, researchers, health professionals, and industry specialists.
More Related Videos
09:17Psychophysical Tracking Method to Measure Taste Preferences in Children and Adults
Published on: July 16, 2016
07:12Protocol for Data Collection and Analysis Applied to Automated Facial Expression Analysis Technology and Temporal Analysis for Sensory Evaluation
Published on: August 26, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
01:23Binge Eating Disorders
01:23Dietary Connections
02:16Self-Schemas
02:01Group Design
01:50Cross-Sectional Research