Examining the influences of media on food practices among adolescents in Salem district of Tamil Nadu: a cross-sectional study

Social media-based food advertising has notably emerged as a significant and modern form of exposure for adolescents, frequently exceeding traditional media in terms of reach and influence. Food labels also play a role in their nutritional choices, albeit with varied understanding. To determine the association of advertisements and food labelling practices on dietary choices among adolescents and to examine associations with junk food consumption. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 adolescents aged 10–19 years in Salem, Tamil Nadu, using stratified random sampling. Data on demographics, media exposure, food habits, and label reading practices were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Association was examined using chi-square test. Nearly, 69.4% of adolescents reported being tempted by advertisements to consume junk food ( p = 0.002). Advertisements were significantly associated with the frequency of junk food intake, belief in food marketing, and intent to purchase. Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube were identified as significantly associated channels for food marketing. Current study highlighting that media advertisements were significantly associated with unhealthy eating patterns. This highlights the need for educational interventions and regulatory policies to enhance media literacy and improve understanding of food labelling to promote healthier dietary behaviors.