New Study Says Junk Food Ads Disproportionately Target Black And Hispanic Youth

A study by the UConn Center for Food Policy and Obesity found that Black and Hispanic youth are disproportionately targeted by junk food advertisers, with Black children and teens viewing over 16 food-related ads daily in 2017 compared to 8.8 for white children and 7.8 for white teens, seeing approximately 2.5 times as many candy ads; this advertising disparity contributes to health disparities including higher obesity rates in African American communities, as advertisers exploit economic pressures on Black media outlets and food deserts in urban areas to maximize profits through predatory marketing practices.