NEW DELHI: A new multinational study has established a direct link between exposure to food marketing and unhealthy dietary choices among children and adolescents.

Conducted across six countries, including Canada, Australia, Chile, Mexico, the UK, and the US, the study found that children exposed to advertisements for fast food, sugary drinks, cereals, snacks like chips, crackers or granola bars, and desserts such as cookies, candy and ice cream were significantly more likely to have consumed those very foods the previous day.

Published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, the study urged governments worldwide to adopt mandatory, evidence-based restrictions on food marketing targeted at young people.

Dr Arun Gupta, paediatrician, nutrition advocat

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