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Exposure to Food Marketing via Social Media and Obesity among University Students in Saudi Arabia

Author

Listed:
  • Najlaa M. Aljefree

    (Food and Nutrition Department, Faculty of Human Sciences and Design, King Abdulaziz University, Building 43, Room 237, Level 2, Jeddah 3270, Saudi Arabia)

  • Ghada Talat Alhothali

    (Marketing Department, College of Business, University of Jeddah, Building 17, Level 4, Room 4036, Jeddah 3795, Saudi Arabia)

Abstract

This study investigated the associations between obesity and unhealthy food/drink intake with both the frequency of social media platform usage and food/drink marketing exposure on social media. Data were obtained from 316 university students aged 18–29 years at two universities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These participants completed online questionnaires with sections on demographics, anthropometric measurements, social media platform usage, food marketing exposure via social media, and unhealthy food consumption. All of the participants, 20.3% and 13.6% were overweight and obese, respectively. Snapchat was the most popular application (85.8%), followed by Instagram (75%), YouTube (61%), Twitter (51%), and TikTok (50%). The obese participants were more likely to purchase foods/drinks after watching relevant social media advertisements than their non-obese counterparts ( p < 0.04). Moreover, those who purchased foods/drinks more frequently after watching such advertisements consumed higher amounts of potato chips ( p < 0.01) and fast foods ( p < 0.03). Finally, those who used Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram tended to have higher consumption rates for potato chips ( p < 0.02), fast foods ( p < 0.01), sweets ( p < 0.02), and sugary drinks ( p < 0.04). Public health policymakers in Saudi Arabia should consider regulating unhealthy food and drink advertisements on social media platforms, especially those targeted at younger generations.

Suggested Citation

  • Najlaa M. Aljefree & Ghada Talat Alhothali, 2022. "Exposure to Food Marketing via Social Media and Obesity among University Students in Saudi Arabia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:5851-:d:813302
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Pasquale E. Rummo & Omni Cassidy & Ingrid Wells & Jaime A. Coffino & Marie A. Bragg, 2020. "Examining the Relationship between Youth-Targeted Food Marketing Expenditures and the Demographics of Social Media Followers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-12, March.
    2. Gary Sacks & Evelyn Suk Yi Looi, 2020. "The Advertising Policies of Major Social Media Platforms Overlook the Imperative to Restrict the Exposure of Children and Adolescents to the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods and Beverages," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-10, June.
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