Effect of Mass Media on Nutrition and Health

This presentation explores the powerful role of mass media in shaping nutrition and health behaviors within the Sri Lankan context. It examines how television, social media, and digital marketing influence people’s food choices, often affecting their perceptions of what is “healthy” or “desirable.” Through local examples and evidence, the presentation highlights both the positive impacts; such as raising awareness on healthy eating and public health campaigns, and the negative influences, including misleading advertisements, promotion of ultra-processed foods, and unrealistic body image ideals.
Overall, this work aims to encourage critical thinking about the messages we see every day and how they silently guide our eating habits, health priorities, and cultural food practices.

1. When Ads Become Appetites! - How Mass Media Shapes What We Eat and Believe -

2. Disclaimer - This presentation is intended solely for educational purposes and is not meant to criticize or target any company, brand, or organization -

3. Any form of communication that reaches a large audience, is independent and devoid of person-to-person contact What is Mass Media?

4. Power of Mass Media It sells emotions, not just information Shapes perceptions and beliefs Creates social norms Builds trust and authority Influences behavior subconsciously Simplifies complex ideas Shapes children’s preferences early Promotes instant gratification Drives policy and advocacy Bridges and biases

5. Media Usage & Penetration in Sri Lanka 79% owns one ~67% - first choice ~6% - first choice ~9% - first choice ~35.4% users

6. Influence of Mass Media Positive Negative

7. Why they are always short? Average viewer-attention span is very short Short, catchy messages are easier to remember Focus on one main emotion Celebrity endorsement matters Cost-effective Repetition = Persuasion

8. Ad Jingles!

9. Celebrity endorsement…

10. Print media advertisements when TVs were not very popular…

11. Why Local Context Matters? Yet gaps in ad regulation! Triple burden: Undernutrition, Micronutrient deficiencies, rising overweight/NCDs across South Asia Media environment: High TV penetration; rapidly growing smartphone & social media use in Sri Lanka Local policies: Traffic light labelling, SSB (Sugar-Sweetened Beverage) tax, school nutrition initiatives

12. WHO (2022): “Exposure to unhealthy food marketing influences children’s food preferences, purchase requests, and consumption patterns” UNICEF (2021): “Mass media influences maternal knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to child feeding and nutrition” (APA, 2020): “Media exposure influences health-related attitudes and risk perceptions, particularly through emotional engagement”

13. Take home... Mass media influences what people eat, believe, and value about health and nutrition; not always by direct instruction, but through repeated emotional and visual cues

14. If you want to read more... 1. https://www.wfp.org/news/ undp-wfp-and-ministry-environment-launch-lesser-known-foods-sri-lanka-campaign-boost 2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286477099_Content_Analysis_of_Food_and_Beverages_Advertisements_Targeting_Children_and_Adults_on_Television_in_Sri_Lanka 3. https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/food-marketing-children 4. https://www.unicef.org/media/115361/file/Maternal%20Nutrition%20Programming%20Guidance.pdf 5. https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/youth-social-media-2024 6. https://jbt.sljol.info/articles/155/files/679712247abbb.pdf 7. https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article-abstract/32/1/91/2950927