Children eat more after seeing just five minutes of junk food ads, study finds

A study reveals that children watch five minutes of junk food ads and see an average increase of 130 calories in snacks (equivalent to two slices of bread) and 73 calories at lunch, significantly affecting their dietary habits. This is the first study to show that brand-only food advertisements can prompt increased calorie intake beyond the immediate moment after exposure. The impact was also observed two hours later during lunch, indicating a sustained effect. Experts emphasize the importance of closing loopholes in regulations against junk food ads to reduce childhood obesity effectively.