Understanding how Facebook food ads affect teenagers' eating habits

Examining the Mechanisms Underlying the Influence of Facebook Food Advertisements on Adolescents' Eating Behaviors: Randomized Controlled Trials

['FUNDING_R01'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-10878003

This study looks at how food ads on Facebook affect what teenagers eat, especially focusing on ads aimed at different racial groups, to understand why some teens might eat more after seeing these ads, and it hopes to find ways to help young people make healthier choices.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10878003 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how food advertisements on Facebook influence the eating behaviors of adolescents, particularly focusing on the impact of racially targeted ads. It aims to identify the mechanisms that lead to increased calorie consumption among teenagers exposed to these ads. By conducting randomized controlled trials, the study will explore the differences in responses to food advertisements between Black adolescents and their White counterparts. The findings could help in developing strategies to mitigate the negative effects of food advertising on youth diets.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20, particularly those who are active on social media platforms like Facebook.

Not a fit: Patients who are not adolescents or those who do not engage with social media may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved dietary habits among adolescents and reduce the risk of diet-related health issues in adulthood.

How similar studies have performed: While there has been some research on food advertising effects on television, this study is novel as it focuses specifically on social media and racially targeted advertisements.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.