NFL game advertisements promote foods high in fat and sodium

Research from Saint Louis University (SLU) and the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine finds that some of the most-watched ads promote the worst food options for adults with chronic health conditions.

The findings published online on Jan. 30 in JAMA Network analyzed advertisements transmitted during televised NFL games in the U.S. to assess the nutritional content by serving.

The study found that store-bought foods and quick-service restaurants advertised during NFL games, the most watched sporting events in the U.S., were frequently high in sodium, calories, and fat content.

The paper, “Salt and Nutritional Content of Foods Advertised During Televised Professional Football Games,” was first authored by Lara Al-Zoubaidi, a third-year nutrition student at SLU’s Doisy College of Health Sciences. Al-Zoubaidi was a part of the research team led by senior author Paul J. Hauptman, M.D., dean of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

The observational study looked at the impact of advertising and paid sponsorships on consumer behavior and meal option selections on adults with heart failure, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney failure.

“The thing that surprised me most was how normalized these ads and paid promotions were, and there weren’t any regulations on how much people could view them,” Al-Zoubaidi said.

Researchers discovered that excess dietary intake is frequent due to ingesting processed and prepared foods, including those from high-volume restaurants or other food establishments. They also reported that excess fat and caloric intake may influence the natural history of coronary artery disease, diabetes, and other conditions.

The presentation in each commercial determined individual serving sizes. The nutritional content of each food item was determined from each company’s website. Researchers said the combination of extended viewing times and poor dietary choices may be maladaptive for both primary and secondary prevention of multiple chronic cardiovascular and other conditions.

The findings suggest clinicians should counsel individuals with prevalent conditions about limiting dietary sodium intake of most foods advertised during NFL games, which may improve symptoms and quality of life.

“This study was geared towards physicians to raise awareness around what their patients are consuming and empower them to take control of their health,” Al-Zoubaidi said.

Other authors include Nadya Vinsdata, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, and R. Eric Heidel, Ph.D., Department of Surgery at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine.