Children frequently pressure parents to buy unhealthy foods while shopping

A study using a nationally representative survey of parents in England reveals that over half (58%) of parents are regularly pestered by their children or teenagers to buy products high in fats, salts and/or sugar (HFSS) when food shopping in shops or online. Almost three-quarters (72%) reported often buying the requested item.

According to parents, shopping with children is the second most common reason they are influenced to engage in unplanned food purchases (52%), following price promotions and in-store offers (59%).

The findings reveal the considerable influence the food environment has on requests for unhealthy products from children, driven largely by in-store and media marketing.

The research is to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity.

To find out more, read the full article here.