Impact of food advertising restrictions in Portugal on children's exposure to unhealthy foods and beverages: a before-and-after study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Food advertising, which largely affects the most vulnerable children, contributes to childhood obesity by fostering the consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages. Portugal passed Act 30/2019 which introduces food advertising restrictions targeted at children. The aim of this study was to assess the Act's effectiveness in reducing the exposure of children under 14 years of age to television advertising of unhealthy foods and beverages.

Methods

We conducted a before-and-after study by measuring children's exposure to unhealthy food television advertising (mean number of impressions and coverage) over two, week-long periods, in February 2019 and February 2022. This study analysed data from a NielsenIQ consumer panel made up of 1100 households which uses audi

SUBMITTER: Royo-Bordonada MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12661814 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature