Children Who See Social Media Influencers Promote Unhealthy Foods May Be More Likely To Adopt Bad Eating Habits

reports researchers found that “children who see social media influencers promote unhealthy food are more likely to adopt bad diets.” The findings were published in Pediatrics. Reuters (3/4, Rapaport) reports the researchers “recruited 176 children, ages 9 to 11, and showed them Instagram profiles for two of their age group’s most popular YouTube video bloggers,” and then “the children were randomly assigned to view three types of Instagram profiles: healthy food marketing, junk food promotions, or endorsements unrelated to food.” The researchers then served the children snacks and found that children “who saw junk food promotions consumed 448 calories, compared with 389 calories for children who saw healthy food marketing and 357 for those who didn’t see any food promotions.” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/03/04/instagram-social-media-may-cause-kids-eat-unhealthy-study/3052978002/