Vergeer Laura, Soto Carolina, Bagnato Mariangela, Pauzé Elise, Amson Ashley, Ramsay Tim, Olstad Dana Lee, Welch Vivian, Potvin Kent Monique
School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
BMC Nutr. 2025 Aug 11;11(1):163. doi: 10.1186/s40795-025-01148-5.
Youth of racial/ethnic minority groups and lower-income households are disproportionately exposed to unhealthy food marketing on television; however, there is limited evidence concerning digital marketing. This study examined differences in Canadian youth's exposure to digital food marketing by race/ethnicity and household income adequacy.
Frequency of food marketing exposure via digital platforms and digital food marketing techniques were self-reported by 996 youth in Canada aged 10-17 years. Proportional odds and logistic regression models explored differences between racial/ethnic (White vs. racial/ethnic minority) and income adequacy groups (low vs. medium vs. high), adjusted for sociodemographic and digital device usage variables.
White participants had lower odds of more frequent exposure to digital marketing of sugary drinks (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.52-0.94), sugary cereals (OR: 0.56; 95% CI: 0.42-0.76), fruits/vegetables (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.45-0.87), salty/savoury snacks (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.47-0.85), fast food (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55-0.99), and desserts/sweets (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.50-0.91) than racial/ethnic minority youth. Compared to youth from low income adequacy households, those with medium income adequacy were less likely to report more frequent exposure to marketing of sugary drinks (OR: 0.67; 95 CI: 0.51-0.89), fast food (OR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.50-0.87), and desserts/sweets (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49-0.87). White youth were less likely than racial/ethnic minority youth to report exposure to unhealthy food marketing on ≥ 1 social media platform(s) (OR: 0.45; 95% CI: 0.30-0.68) and gaming/TV/music streaming platform/website(s) (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51-0.99); no differences were observed between income groups. White youth were less likely than racial/ethnic minority youth to report exposure to marketing featuring incentives/premiums (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.52-0.99) and cross-promotions (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51-0.99). Participants of higher (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.49-0.95) and medium (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.50-0.93) income adequacy were less likely to report exposure to marketing featuring celebrities than those with low income adequacy.
Youth of racial/ethnic minorities report more frequent exposure to digital food marketing, especially for unhealthy foods, than White youth in Canada. Differences were also observed between income groups. Comprehensive marketing regulations are needed to limit all youths' exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing.
种族/族裔少数群体和低收入家庭的青少年在电视上接触不健康食品营销的比例过高；然而，关于数字营销的证据有限。本研究调查了加拿大青少年在数字食品营销接触方面因种族/族裔和家庭收入充足程度的差异。
996名10至17岁的加拿大青少年自行报告了通过数字平台接触食品营销的频率以及数字食品营销技巧。比例优势和逻辑回归模型探讨了种族/族裔（白人对种族/族裔少数群体）和收入充足程度组（低对中对高）之间的差异，并对社会人口统计学和数字设备使用变量进行了调整。
与种族/族裔少数群体青少年相比，白人参与者更频繁接触含糖饮料数字营销（比值比：0.70；95%置信区间：0.52 - 0.94）、含糖谷物（比值比：0.56；95%置信区间：0.42 - 0.76）、水果/蔬菜（比值比：0.63；95%置信区间：0.45 - 0.87）、咸/香零食（比值比：0.63；95%置信区间：0.47 - 0.85）、快餐（比值比：0.74；95%置信区间：0.55 - 0.99）和甜点/糖果（比值比：0.68；95%置信区间：0.50 - 0.91）的可能性较低。与收入充足程度低的家庭的青少年相比，收入充足程度中等的青少年报告更频繁接触含糖饮料营销（比值比：0.67；95%置信区间：0.51 - 0.89）、快餐（比值比：0.66；95%置信区间：0.50 - 0.87）和甜点/糖果（比值比：0.65；95%置信区间：0.49 - 0.87）的可能性较小。白人青少年比种族/族裔少数群体青少年报告在≥1个社交媒体平台上接触不健康食品营销（比值比：0.45；95%置信区间：0.30 - 0.68）以及在游戏/电视/音乐流媒体平台/网站上接触（比值比：0.71；95%置信区间：0.51 - 0.99）的可能性较小；收入组之间未观察到差异。白人青少年比种族/族裔少数群体青少年报告接触有激励/赠品营销（比值比：0.72；95%置信区间：0.52 - 0.99）和交叉促销营销（比值比：0.71；95%置信区间：0.51 - 0.99）的可能性较小。收入充足程度高（比值比：0.68；95%置信区间：0.49 - 0.95）和中等（比值比：0.69；95%置信区间：0.50 - 0.93）的参与者比收入充足程度低的参与者报告接触有明星代言营销的可能性较小。
在加拿大，种族/族裔少数群体的青少年比白人青少年报告更频繁接触数字食品营销，尤其是不健康食品。收入组之间也观察到差异。需要全面的营销法规来限制所有青少年接触不健康的数字食品营销。
