ERIC Number: EJ816702
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1499-4046
EISSN: N/A
Health and Nutrient Content Claims in Food Advertisements on Hispanic and Mainstream Prime-Time Television
Abbatangelo-Gray, Jodie; Byrd-Bredbenner, Carol; Austin, S. Bryn
Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, v40 n6 p348-354 Nov-Dec 2008
Objective: Characterize frequency and type of health and nutrient content claims in prime-time weeknight Spanish- and English-language television advertisements from programs shown in 2003 with a high viewership by women aged 18 to 35 years. Design: Comparative content analysis design was used to analyze 95 hours of Spanish-language and 72 hours of English-language television programs (netting 269 and 543 food ads, respectively). Main Outcome Measures: A content analysis instrument was used to gather information on explicit health and nutrient content claims: nutrition information only; diet-disease; structure-function; processed food health outcome; good for one's health; health care provider endorsement. Analysis: Chi-square statistics detected statistically significant differences between the groups. Results: Compared to English-language television, Spanish-language television aired significantly more food advertisements containing nutrition information and health, processed food/health, and good for one's health claims. Samples did not differ in the rate of diet/disease, structure/function, or health care provider endorsement claims. Conclusions and Implications: Findings indicate that Spanish-language television advertisements provide viewers with significantly more nutrition information than English-language network advertisements. Potential links between the deteriorating health status of Hispanics acculturating into US mainstream culture and their exposure to the less nutrition-based messaging found in English-language television should be explored. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Hispanic Americans, Cultural Influences, Nutrition, Public Health, Dietetics, Content Analysis, Acculturation, Television Viewing, Spanish, Advertising, Comparative Analysis, Health Promotion, English, Mass Media Effects, Language Usage
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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