Influence of Cartoon Media Characters on Children's Attention to and Preference for Food and Beverage Products

Abstract

Background Over-consuming unhealthful foods and beverages contributes to pediatric obesity and associated diseases. Food marketing influences children’s food preferences, choices, and intake. Objective To examine whether adding licensed media characters to healthful food/beverage packages increases children’s attention to and preference for these products. We hypothesized that children prefer less- (vs more-) healthful foods, and pay greater attention to and preferentially select products with (vs without) media characters regardless of nutritional quality. We also hypothesized that children prefer more-healthful products when characters are present over less-healthful products without characters. Design On a computer, participants viewed food/beverage pairs of more-healthful and less-healthful versions of similar products. The same products were shown with and without licensed characters on the packaging. An eye-tracking camera monitored participant gaze, and participants chose which product they preferred from each of 60 pairs. Participants/setting Six- to 9-year-old children (n=149; mean age=7.36, standard deviation=1.12) recruited from the Twin Cities, MN, area in 2012–2013. Main outcome measures Visual attention and product choice. Statistical analyses performed Attention to products was compared using paired-samples t tests, and product choice was analyzed with single-sample t tests. Analyses of variance were conducted to test for interaction effects of specific characters and child sex and age. Results Children paid more attention to products with characters and preferred less-healthful products. Contrary to our prediction, children chose products without characters approximately 62% of the time. Children’s choices significantly differed based on age, sex, and the specific cartoon character displayed, with characters in this study being preferred by younger boys. Conclusions Results suggest that putting licensed media characters on more-healthful food/beverage products might not encourage all children to make healthier food choices, but could increase selection of healthy foods among some, particularly younger children, boys, and those who like the featured character(s). Effective use likely requires careful demographic targeting.

A “Forbidden Fruit Effect”: An Eye-Tracking Study on Children’s Visual Attention to Food Marketing

“…Our study cannot confirm that unhealthy foods lead to higher visual attention or pupil dilation compared to healthy foods. These results discount studies using static pictures of unhealthy and healthy foods [31]. When using static pictures, the full attention is channeled to the specific picture.…”

“…Only a few studies we are aware of have tested the effects of healthy versus unhealthy foods on visual attention [23,[31][32][33]. First, Graham and colleagues [23] measured visual attention of overweight and normal weight women toward unhealthy sweet, unhealthy savory, and healthy foods.…”

“…However, these findings cannot be generalized to children because of their low levels of inhibitory control [34]. Second, Ogle and colleagues [31] compared the visual attention of children for pictures of unhealthy versus healthy foods. Children paid more visual attention to unhealthy foods.…”

“…Overall, this study contributes to this important research field in investigating children's dwell time and pupil dilation in reaction to an unhealthy versus a healthy product. Studies exploring the effects on children did not measure pupil dilation [31][32][33]. However, this important measurement could shed light on children's emotional reactions toward different food cues [28].…”

“…Moreover, as stated in the REFCAM [28], individual susceptibility factors such as food restrictions at home [30] or the BMI [46] are crucial. However, studies with children did not take these factors into account [31][32][33].…”