A Current Appraisal of Health- and Nutrition-Related Claims in Magazine Food Advertisements

Abstract

This article reports a content analysis of health- and nutrition-related claims used in food advertisements in popular women's and men's magazines. The authors analyzed 734 food ads and 100 magazine issues. Their research shows that nutrient content claims (i.e., ones that focus on a specific nutrient component such as “low in fat”) are the most predominantly used, followed by general nutrition claims, structure/function claims, and healthy claims. The least used category is health claims, in which the advertised food is linked to reduced risk of a disease or health problem. The use of health- and nutrition-related claims differs across different food groups and types of magazines.

Notes

¹Our study included 10 issues of Men's Health, 17 issues of Woman's Day, 12 issues of Better Homes and Gardens, 12 issues of Cosmopolitan, 10 issues of GQ, and 39 issues of Sports Illustrated.

^a More than 25% of cells have expected count less than 5.

#**p < .01.

Note. For all χ², df = 1.

#*p < .05; **p < .01.