Exploring the association between television advertising of healthy and unhealthy foods, self-control, and food intake in three European countries

Background: Building upon previous results, the present study explored the relationship between exposure to unhealthy and healthy food TV commercials, trait self-control, and food intake. Methods: In total, 825 Finns (53% female), 1,055 Germans (55% female), and 971 Romanians (55% female) aged 8-21 reported advertisement exposure, self-control, and food intake. Results: Altogether, participants indicated higher exposure to unhealthy compared to healthy food advertisements (F(1, 2848)=354.73, p<.001, partial η²=111). Unhealthy food advertisement exposure was positively associated with unhealthy food intake (all β≥.16, p<.001). Healthy food advertisement exposure was positively associated with fruit and vegetable consumption (β=10, p<.001). Self-control was associated with higher consumption of healthy (β≥.09, p<.001) and lower consumption of unhealthy foods (all β≥-11, p<.001). Yet, findings of advertising and self-control were mainly independent (interactions: β≤|.07|, p≥.002). Conclusion: Even though the results suggest that healthy advertisement exposure and self-control might be beneficial for children's and adolescents' diet, self-control might be insufficient to alleviate the positive relationship between unhealthy food advertising and unhealthy eating.