While over half — 58% — of people research a service or product online, it may not be doing them any favors. According to a new study done by New York University, celebrity endorsements of different foods and drinks are only adding to the nation’s current obesity epidemic.
Marie Bragg, the scientist behind the study, has been focusing for years on celebrity food endorsements and what they do to influence the eating habits of teens and children. She compiled a list of celebrities associated with the Billboard Hot 100 Charts from 2013 and 2014.
The endorsements were gathered from official company websites, YouTube commercials, media reports, and an advertising database.
Bragg ranked the food items according to a nutritional food index that assessed the amount of calories in each item that came from added sugars.The final list included 57 different food and beverages by 65 celebrities.
In terms of number of food endorsements, Baauer, will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, and Britney Spears topped the list.
In her study, Bragg found that 81% of the food being endorsed was unhealthy, and 71% of the drinks were sugar sweetened.
Only one food had any nutritional content –pistachios– endorsed by South Korean pop star Psy.
Take Pepsi, the popular soft drink, for example. It is endorsed by singers Nicki Minaj and Beyonce. One 12-ounce serving contains an astounding 40 grams of sugar, and the diet version is full of additives that can trick your taste buds into consuming more sugar in the long run.
Bragg believes more protection is needed for children and teens as they are a vulnerable demographic. She tells The Washington Post, “We know they are a prime target given their spending power. We hope that this study will start a discussion about shifting this marketing away from unhealthy products.”
In total, there are roughly 12.7 million obese teens and children in the United States.
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