title: Randomized Controlled Trials Evaluating Effect of Television Advertising on Food Intake in Children: Why Such a Sensitive Topic is Lacking Top-Level Evidence?
abstract: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of evidence coming from randomized controlled trials (RCT) aimed at assessing the effect of television advertising on food intake in children from 4 to 12 years old. Randomized controlled trials were searched in PubMed database and included if they assessed the effect of direct exposure to television food advertising over the actual energy intake of children. Seven studies out of 2166 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The association between television advertising and energy intake is based on a very limited set of randomized researches lacking a solid ground of first-level evidence.
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gregori
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ballali
authors.forename: Maria Gabriella
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vecchio
authors.forename: Antonella Silvia
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sciré
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Foltran
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berchialla
keywords: TV advertising; child obesity; food consumption; food preference; snacks