Influencia de la publicidad alimentaria en la elección y consumo de alimentos en estudiantes de Nutrición y Dietética, UCSG, 2025.

Abstract

Food and beverage advertising aimed at young people is characterized by its widespread use, especially for products high in fat, sugar, or salt. This is especially relevant for young adults, a population transitioning toward autonomy in their dietary choices. The objective was to determine the influence of food advertising on food choice and consumption among first- and second-semester students of the Nutrition and Dietetics program at the UCSG (University of Granada) from January to June 2025. A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional design was conducted. The sample consisted of eighty-three students, of whom: 79.52% were women, aged 17-25; 20.48% were men, aged 17-24. The results showed greater consumption on TikTok and Instagram among the female group. According to 51.8% of respondents, the desire to consume healthy food was greater with content advertised on social media. In addition, 38.6% stated that digital food trends influenced their dietary awareness. Finally, 15.7% considered advertising and nutritional content to be "very important" factors in their choices (p = 0.0101), and an association was found between advertising exposure and food preferences. Food advertising on social media significantly influences young people's consumption attitudes and desires, even toward healthy options, although less nutritious products still have a strong impact.