Examining Chile's unique food marketing policy: TV advertising and dietary intake in preschool children, a pre‐ and post‐ policy study

Summary Background The Chilean government implemented the first phase of a comprehensive marketing policy in 2016, restricting child‐directed marketing of products high in energy, total sugars, sodium or saturated fat (hereafter “high‐in”). Objectives To examine the role that high‐in TV food advertising had in the effect of the policy on consumption of high‐in products between 2016 and 2017. Methods Dietary data were obtained from 24‐hour diet recall measured in 2016 (n = 940) and 2017 (n = 853), pre‐ and post‐policy, from a cohort of 4 to 6 years children. Television use was linked to analyses of food advertisements to derive individual‐level estimates of exposure to advertising. A multilevel mediation analysis examined direct and indirect effects of the policy through advertising exposure. Results Children's high‐in food consumption and advertising exposure declined significantly from 2016 to 2017 (P