Effects of licensed characters on children's taste and snack preferences in Guatemala, a low/middle income country

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dc.contributor.authorLetona, P.
dc.contributor.authorChacon, V.
dc.contributor.authorRoberto, C.
dc.contributor.authorBarnoya, J.
dc.date.accessioned2014-12-23T13:31:59Z
dc.date.available2014-12-23T13:31:59Z
dc.date.copyright2014
dc.date.issued2014-03
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Marketing of high-energy, low-nutrient foods is one of the contributing factors to the obesity-promoting environment. Licensed characters are typically used to market these foods to children because they increase brand recognition and sales, and data suggest that they affect the taste and snack preferences of children in high-income countries, but it has not yet been explored in low/middle income countries (LMICs). We sought to examine how licensed characters on food packaging influence children's taste and snack preferences in Guatemala, a LMIC. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one children (mean ± s.d. age, 7.4 ± 1.9 years) from four (two preschool and two elementary) public schools in Guatemala tasted three food types: potato chips, crackers and carrots. Each was presented in two identical packages, except that one had a licensed character and the other did not. Children tasted the foods (six total) in each package and answered whether they tasted the same or one tasted better. Snack preference was also evaluated. RESULTS: Children were significantly (Po0.001) more likely to prefer the taste of the foods inside the package with the licensed character compared with the one with no character (mean ± s.d., 0.24 ± 0.54). Most (66%) chose the food in the package with the character for a snack. Younger children (Po0.001) were more likely to prefer the taste of the food inside the package with the character. CONCLUSIONS: Licensed characters on food packaging influence Guatemalan children's taste and snack preferences. Given that these characters are typically used to promote high-energy, low-nutrient foods, their influence could contribute toward overconsumption of these foods and consequently increased risk of obesity in Guatemalan children. Therefore, public health advocates, in Guatemala and elsewhere, might explore restricting the use of licensed characters on food packaging as a public health strategy.en
dc.formatTexten
dc.format.extent1 digital file (p. 1-4)en
dc.format.mimetypeApplication/pdf
dc.identifier.citationLetona, P., Chacon, V., Roberto, C., & Barnoya, J. (2014). Effects of licensed characters on children's taste and snack preferences in Guatemala, a low/middle income country. International Journal of Obesity, 1-4. doi:10.1038/ijo.2014.38en
dc.identifier.issn0307-0565
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/53490
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMacmillan Publishersen
dc.subjectPEDIATRIC OBESITYen
dc.subjectMIDDLE INCOME COUNTRIESen
dc.subjectMARKETINGen
dc.subjectHEALTH POLICYen
dc.subjectTASTE/SNACK PREFERENCEen
dc.subjectLICENSED CHARACTERSen
dc.subjectSNACKSen
dc.subjectGUATEMALAen
dc.subjectCHILDRENen
dc.subjectLOW INCOME COUNTRIESen
dc.subjectPACKAGINGen
dc.subjectPUBLIC HEALTHen
dc.titleEffects of licensed characters on children's taste and snack preferences in Guatemala, a low/middle income countryen
dc.typeJournal Article (peer-reviewed)en
idrc.copyright.holderMacmillan Publishers Limited
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.noaccessDue to copyright restrictions the full text of this research output is not available in the IDRC Digital Library or by request from the IDRC Library. / Compte tenu des restrictions relatives au droit d'auteur, le texte intégral de cet extrant de recherche n'est pas accessible dans la Bibliothèque numérique du CRDI, et il n'est pas possible d'en faire la demande à la Bibliothéque du CRDI.en
idrc.project.componentnumber106883001
idrc.project.number106883
idrc.project.titleInfluence of Food Packaging on Children's Energy-dense Snack Food Preferences in Guatemalaen
idrc.recordsserver.bcsnumberIC01-3093-7
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

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IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Latin America and the Caribbean / Amérique latine et Caraïbes
Research Results (NCDP) / Résultats de recherches (PMNT)
Unhealthy diets / Alimentation malsaine