Teenagers Understanding and Influence of Media Content on their Diet and Health- Related Behaviour

Abstract

Introduction: Mass media plays a vital role in health communication. The target audience of mass media ranges from children, to geriatric population. Mass media often gives least priority to certain science topics for a variety of reasons, mostly to protect commercial interests. In this context, the present study is attempted to elicit teenagers understanding of diet and health-related content through mass media.Objectives: To study the influence of mass media content on teenagers. To analyze how teenagers are influenced by media messages on their diet and health-related behaviours.Methodology: Cross-sectional method with stratified random sampling consisting of 3 types of economic groups viz., lower-income, middle-income and higher income. Results and conclusion:Media content on diet and health-related behaviour motivates teenagers, particularly those messages laced with celebrities' endorsements. Commercial food and beverage products endorsed by celebrities are being consumed by majority of teenagers. Majority teenagers say that, they tend to take one or other kind of physical fitness activity whenever they see a fit body of film actors/ actress and sportspersons in media.

Perspective and Evaluation of Evidence-based Nutrition Models in the World

“…In this way, consumers will not be concerned about the food and drink they consume and will have suffi cient and accurate information. In short, it is necessary to use the best available evidence in a logical, scientifi c, and transparent way and share this proven scientifi c information with individuals or groups (Figure 1) [6].…”