title: The association between BMI development among young children and (un)healthy food choices in response to food advertisements: a longitudinal study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have focused on the acute effects of food advertisements on the caloric intake of children; however, the long-term effects of this food cue reactivity on weight gain have not been examined. The main aim of this study was to explore if reactivity to food cues in an advertisement was associated with weight status two years later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children wo had previously taken part in an experiment investigating the impact of advergames on food intake had their height and weight re-measured two years later, for assessment of body mass index (BMI). A within-subject design was used to test the associations between food choices and BMI over time. In the previous experiment, children played an advergame that promoted energy-dense snacks, fruit, or nonfood products, or did not play an advergame (control condition). After playing the game, the free intake of energy-dense snacks and fruits was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children who ate more apple after playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks had a lower BMI two years later. Consumption of energy-dense snacks after playing an advergame promoting energy-dense snacks was not associated with BMI two years later. In other condition, no association was found between food intake and BMI after two years .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that coping with environmental cues that trigger unhealthy eating behavior is associated with the body mass index of young children two years later. This might imply that learning to respond to food cues by choosing healthy options might prevent children from excessive weight gain. This trial was registered at as ISRCTN17013832 .
authors: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 8.01.03, 6526 GD, Nijmegen, Netherlands. f.folkvord@maw.ru.nl.|From the Applied Social Science and Behavioral Economics Research Group, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. f.folkvord@maw.ru.nl.
authors: Frans
authors: F
authors: Folkvord
authors: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 8.01.03, 6526 GD, Nijmegen, Netherlands. d.anschutz@pwo.ru.nl.
authors: Doeschka J
authors: DJ
authors: Anschütz
authors: Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Thomas van Aquinostraat 8.01.03, 6526 GD, Nijmegen, Netherlands. m.buijzen@maw.ru.nl.
authors: Moniek
authors: M
authors: Buijzen
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003463:Cues; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D002149:Energy Intake; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D027845:Malus; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000209:etiology; D010988:Play and Playthings; D062410:Snacks / Q000523:psychology*; D015430:Weight Gain