Study tackles salt, nutritional content of foods in pro football TV ads

NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- If you're planning your Super Bowl menu, chances are some of your choices were influenced by ads you've seen on NFL broadcasts over the past season.

You may have chips and nachos, salsa or onion dip, chicken wings, sausage, cheese, deli meat, pickles and beer. A lot of these, touted in ads during football broadcasts, are loaded with sodium, calories and fat.

Now, a study that reviews the sodium and nutritional content of foods promoted during timeouts and halftime found that adults may stray from dietary restrictions based on how often they're exposed to such advertising.

The study was published Thursday in JAMA Network Open.

"We were motivated in part by the growing concern over the role of food advertising in influencing dietary choices, particularly among individuals with chronic health conditions," the study's second author, Nadya Vinsdata, told UPI.

"Our study highlights an important and often overlooked aspect of public health -- how food advertising during widely viewed sporting events may contribute to poor dietary choices," said Vinsdata, a second-year medical student at the University of Nevada-Reno School of Medicine.

"Many patients with conditions like heart failure, kidney disease and hypertension need to closely monitor their sodium intake, and yet they may not be fully aware of how food advertising during sporting events could shape their dietary decisions," she said. "Our goal was to provide objective data on this issue to help inform both clinicians and consumers."

Researchers also noted that watching TV is a sedentary pastime. With NFL games being televised three days a week during the regular season, the mix of extended viewing times and poor dietary selections may work against preventing multiple chronic cardiovascular and other ailments.

"While we are not making policy recommendations, we believe our findings underscore the need for physicians to discuss dietary intake with their patients, especially those who frequently watch televised sports," Vinsdata said.

Researchers evaluated a total of 102 food-related commercials in 10 televised NFL games from September to November 2023. The commercials, from 18 advertisers, ran 15 to 20 seconds each. The nutritional content was determined by checking each company's website.

The median sodium content of products in the commercials was 910 milligrams, falling within a range of 220 to 1,872 mg. Quick-service restaurant meals contained the highest levels of sodium, carbohydrates and calories compared with smaller, store-bought food options, the study said.

Other experts praised the researchers for tackling a timely topic that may not be at the forefront of sports fans' minds.

"The Super Bowl is second only to Thanksgiving in terms of calorie-laden food consumption," said Charles Platkin, executive director of the Center for Food as Medicine, a nonprofit in New York City. Platkin, who holds a doctorate in public health with an emphasis on nutrition, was not involved in the study.

"The study underscores how repeated exposure to high-sodium, high-calorie ads during NFL games can accumulate, as these seemingly 'one-day' events add up over time. This approach helps consumers realize the impact of their choices and encourages more mindful eating," said Platkin, who also is chair of the Board of Advisors at Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center in Manhattan.

"While it's fine to indulge for a day, we want to highlight the importance of balance and informed decision-making when it comes to nutrition," he said.

Kate Donelan, a registered dietitian at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, Calif., said she wasn't surprised that TV advertising of high-sodium foods received prominent attention during NFL games.

However, "I wouldn't necessarily suggest they shouldn't be advertised," Donelan said. "It would be great if the individual companies could slip in healthy habits in between their messaging, such as showing people alternating between a glass of water and a beer or pairing chips with fruit.

"But companies are unlikely to advertise things that don't contribute to their bottom line."

While watching football, Donelan said she eats chips, buffalo dip "or whatever looks good," but she pairs those items with fluid, fiber and protein -- for instance, sparkling water, carrot sticks and almonds -- to limit calories and still feel full.

She added that having the government regulate advertising of unhealthy foods could help put a dent in the serious nationwide obesity crisis.

Dr. Johanna Contreras, a cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City, said the study focuses on "mostly a marketing strategy more than anything. Based on this data, we cannot make any correlations or assumptions, as we do not really know what the people looking at those games are eating."