title: Food and beverage cues in UK and Irish children-television programming.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Increased time in which children spend watching television is a well-described contributor to paediatric obesity. This study investigated the frequency and type of food and beverage placement in children-specific television broadcasts and compared data from UK (UK) and Irish television stations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Content analysis, totalling 82.5 h, reflecting 5 weekdays of children-specific television broadcasting on UK and Irish television channels was performed. To allow comparison between UK and Irish food and beverage cues, only broadcasts between 06.00 and 11.30 were analysed. Data were coded separately by two analysts and transferred to SPSS for analyses. Food and beverage cues were coded based on type of product, product placement, product use, motivation, outcome and characters involved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1155 food and beverage cues were recorded. Sweet snacks were the most frequent food cue (13.3%), followed by sweets/candy (11.4%). Tea/coffee was the most frequent beverage cue (13.5%), followed by sugar-sweetened beverages (13.0%). The outcome of the cue was positive in 32.6%, negative in 19.8%, and neutral in 47.5% of cases. The most common motivating factor associated with each cue was celebratory/social (25.2%), followed by hunger/thirst (25.0%). Comparison of UK and Irish placements showed both to portray high levels of unhealthy food cues. However, placements for sugar-sweetened beverages were relatively low on both channels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides further evidence of the prominence of unhealthy foods in children's programming. These data may provide guidance for healthcare professionals, regulators and programme makers in planning for a healthier portrayal of food and beverage in children's television.
authors: The Children's Ark, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Scully
authors: The Children's Ark, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Orlaith
authors: O
authors: Reid
authors: The Children's Ark, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland National Children's Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Alan
authors: A
authors: Macken
authors: C-Star, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Healy
authors: C-Star, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Saunders
authors: Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, Limerick, Ireland Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
authors: Des
authors: D
authors: Leddin
authors: Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Cullen
authors: Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, Limerick, Ireland.
authors: Colum
authors: C
authors: Dunne
authors: The Children's Ark, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland National Children's Research Centre, Dublin, Ireland Centre for Interventions in Infection, Inflammation & Immunity (4i), Graduate Entry Medical School, Limerick, Ireland Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
authors: Clodagh S
authors: CS
authors: O'Gorman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000639:trends*; D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D003463:Cues; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013690:Television; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Media; Nutrition; Obesity