Donuts on our daughters: Gender differences in food categories on children's apparel. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pesch, Megan H.; Munzer, Tiffany; Pont, Cassidy M.; Lauer, Clare S.; Appugliese, Danielle P.
• Is Part Of: Eating behaviors. Volume 34(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: Child -- Apparel -- Advertising -- Obesity; Eating disorders -- Periodicals; Compulsive eating -- Periodicals; Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.8526
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eatbeh.2019.101303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-0153

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: Recent trends in children's fashion have featured food-graphics on children's apparel. Little attention has been paid to the food-graphic content of children's apparel. The objectives of this study were to describe and quantify food-graphics appearing on children's apparel, to examine characteristics of children's apparel items associated with the presence versus absence of food-graphics, and to examine gender differences in food-graphics. Methods: A content analysis of food-graphics on children's apparel from major apparel retailer websites was performed. Images of food-graphic apparel were reliably coded for food-graphic categories. Multivariable analyses examined the association of apparel item characteristics with food-graphic presence. Bivariate analyses tested the association of presence or absence of each food category with gender of apparel item. Results: Of the 3870 apparel items coded, 8.2% (318) had food-graphics. In multivariable analysis, food-graphics were more likely to be present on girls' (versus boys') apparel (RR = 1.73, 95% CI 1.34–2.12). Content analysis of food-graphic items revealed categories including "pastries", "frozen desserts", "pizza", "fast food", "fruit", and "love of food". Girls' (versus boys') food-graphic apparel was more likely to have categories of "pastries" (33% versus 12%), "frozen desserts" (20% versus 9%), and "fruit" (30% versus 11%) and less likely to have categories of "pizza" (9% versus 30%), and "fast food" (3% versus 23%). The "love of food" category did not differ by gender. All p-values ≤.01. Conclusions: Food-graphics on children's apparel are fairly common, especially on apparel marketed for girls. Children's apparel may represent a novel cultural influence on children's eating and food perceptions. Highlights: Graphics of food items are fairly common on children's apparel. Food-graphics are more common on apparel marketed for girls compared to boys. Food-graphics frequently positively depict unhealthy foods.