A recent study conducted at MSU shows that certain “advergames” not only promote an inactive lifestyle for children, but also contain content that promotes unhealthy eating habits.
A team of MSU researchers looked at more than 100 websites that sported the advergames, or video games that advertise a product or brand, and discovered that many of them are promoting high-sodium, high-fat and high-sugar food products.
“In our technologically savvy society, the two things that have changed tremendously over time are physical activity and what we eat.
The saying ‘we are what we eat’ is fitting, but it is also aggravated by multiple influences, one of which is advertising,” said Lorraine Weatherspoon, MSU associate professor and registered dietitian.
Weatherspoon and Elizabeth Quilliam, an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations, led the project, which received funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Quilliam first began looking at advergames in 2006 when she became aware of the way marketing draws children’s attention in terms of food.
Since 2006, Quilliam and Weatherspoon have worked on several studies related to how food brands are incorporated into video games. Through the many studies the two have conducted, they noticed that the promotion of unhealthy eating habits in video games seems to be targeted toward children rather than young adults, although its occurrence still is apparent to all.
Quilliam recently created her own game that focuses on kids ages 5 to 10 to see if there were age-related differences in the way that kids are persuaded and drawn into something particular.
“We are working together on the study to examine the extent to which these exist (with similar platforms) and will work together on a positive intervention,” Weatherspoon said.
She added that she believes these advergames could be used for more positive food choices, such as fruit, vegetables, milk and other nutritious foods.
While the ads aren’t geared toward students, some have noticed the promotion of unhealthy eating habits and lifestyles in video games.
Finance sophomore Joe Inman said he doesn’t consider himself an avid gamer, but still notices the advertisement of unhealthy food choices in video games.
He said he can still see the way certain video games promote an unhealthy lifestyle, such as junk food advertisements in games like Madden Football, yet they don’t persuade him to purchase what they’re advertising.
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