The Effect of Food and Non-alcoholic Beverage Marketing on Children’s Dietary Intake: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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Importance
Food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing drives children’s dietary intake, yet updated evidence quantifying effects by marketing medium and sociodemographic factors is needed to inform policy.
Objective
To quantify the effect of food marketing on dietary intake among children and adolescents (0-19 years) and examine variations by age, sex, socioeconomic position (SEP), weight status, marketing medium, and exposure duration.
Data Sources
Nineteen electronic databases were searched for articles published from April 2020 to February 2026, complemented by World Health Organization-commissioned reviews covering 1970 to March 2020.
Study Selection
Two reviewers independently selected peer-reviewed primary studies that assessed the association between food marketing and dietary intake, following PRISMA guidelines, with no language restrictions.
Data Extraction and Synthesis
Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE.
Main Outcomes and Measures
Dietary intake (energy, quantity, or number of items consumed).
Results
A total of 55 studies (N = 6,877; range 2-18 years) were included. Food marketing was associated with higher dietary intake (mean difference [MD], 34.8 kcal; 95% CI, 20.2-49.4) compared with no or less marketing. Unhealthy marketing via television (20 studies; MD, 44.5 kcal; 95% CI, 11.2-77.8), digital media (11 studies; MD, 37.5 kcal; 95% CI, 20.1-54.9), and packaging (11 studies; MD, 20.5 kcal; 95% CI, 0.7-40.3) all increased intake; the difference across media was significant (p < .001). Higher intake was observed in males (3 studies; MD, 51.9 kcal; 95% CI, 45.4-58.3) but not in females (MD, -6.8 kcal; 95% CI, -60.3-46.6); difference was not significant (p = .082). Differences by weight status (p = .012) were seen (5 studies; normal weight: MD, 55.6 kcal; 95% CI, -51.3-162.5; overweight/obese: 146.9 kcal; 95% CI, 34.1-259.7). Effects varied by age (p = .003) and by digital media exposure duration (p = .044). One study examined ethnicity; none studied SEP.
Conclusions and Relevance
Food marketing is associated with increased dietary intake, with low certainty of evidence. Variations were observed across age, sex, weight status, and marketing medium. Further research is needed for adolescents and the role of SEP.
KEY POINTS
Question
What are the associations between the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages and children’s dietary intakes?
Finding
In this systematic review and meta-analysis of 55 experimental studies with 6,877 participants, food marketing was associated with higher dietary intake (34.8 kcal; 95% CI, 20.2-49.4 kcal). Some variation was observed across age, sex, weight status, and marketing medium, although evidence was limited for adolescents and by socio-economic status.
Meaning
These findings suggest that comprehensive, cross-platform marketing restrictions could help protect children’s health. Demographic factors are important moderators in the development of policy evaluation models.
