Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada
Abstract Background 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 fo...
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2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMC Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01148-5 |
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| author | Laura Vergeer Carolina Soto Mariangela Bagnato Elise Pauzé Ashley Amson Tim Ramsay Dana Lee Olstad Vivian Welch Monique Potvin Kent |
| author_facet | Laura Vergeer Carolina Soto Mariangela Bagnato Elise Pauzé Ashley Amson Tim Ramsay Dana Lee Olstad Vivian Welch Monique Potvin Kent |
| author_sort | Laura Vergeer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d2c24bb3eb7d4b46b59e3b5f2dc2dab6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2055-0928 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-d2c24bb3eb7d4b46b59e3b5f2dc2dab62025-08-20T03:04:22ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282025-08-0111111810.1186/s40795-025-01148-5Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in CanadaLaura Vergeer0Carolina Soto1Mariangela Bagnato2Elise Pauzé3Ashley Amson4Tim Ramsay5Dana Lee Olstad6Vivian Welch7Monique Potvin Kent8School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaInterdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of OttawaInterdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of OttawaOttawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa HospitalDepartment of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of CalgarySchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaSchool of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of OttawaAbstract Background 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. Methods 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. Results 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. Conclusions 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.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01148-5Food marketingDigital mediaYouthRace/ethnicityIncome |
| spellingShingle | Laura Vergeer Carolina Soto Mariangela Bagnato Elise Pauzé Ashley Amson Tim Ramsay Dana Lee Olstad Vivian Welch Monique Potvin Kent Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada BMC Nutrition Food marketing Digital media Youth Race/ethnicity Income |
| title | Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada |
| title_full | Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada |
| title_short | Youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race/ethnicity and income adequacy in Canada |
| title_sort | youth exposure to unhealthy digital food marketing in relation to race ethnicity and income adequacy in canada |
| topic | Food marketing Digital media Youth Race/ethnicity Income |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01148-5 |
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