If your child is constantly playing on mobile phones and those food based games are his favourite, perhaps it’s time that you take away those games from him. According to a recent study conducted by Radboud University in The Netherlands, children tend to consume more calories after playing online games that involve food, a new study has found.
According to Frans Folkvord, one of the researchers involved found that children playing a game with an embedded food advertisement will eat 55 per cent more than those who played games without food involved.
Most of these advertisements are for snacks and candy. Only 6 per cent of these children are aware that such advergames are advertisements.
Folkvord tested the effects of such hidden online food advertisements on the eating behaviour of more than 1,000 children.
“In contrast to television, where the clearly delimited blocks of commercials can help viewers guard against temptation, on the internet, advertising is mixed with other types of content,” said Folkvord.
“The websites of food manufacturers contain games, which also offer children the option of sharing games with their friends,” he added.
Folkvord observed that children do not recognise the games as advertisements, even when brand names and logos are clearly visible.
Moreover, it does not matter whether the games are about candy or fruit, children eat more candy after playing a game involving food.
During the five-minute break after playing the food-related games, children ate 72 more calories than did children in control conditions.
“Children play a game, get hungry and reach for treats. As the cycle continues, children fail to learn healthy eating behaviour,” said Folkvord.