Prevalence and correlates of US adult public opinion on restricting junk food advertising to children on social media: 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey

Objective: To describe US adults' levels of support, neutrality and opposition to restricting junk food advertising to children on social media and explore associations with socio-demographic and health-related characteristics. Design: In 2020-2021, we used cross-sectional data from the National Cancer Institute's 2020 Health Information National Trends Survey to estimate the prevalence of opinions towards advertising restrictions and correlates of neutrality and opposition using weighted multivariable logistic regression. Setting: United States. Participants: Adults aged 18+ years. Results: Among the analytic sample (n 2852), 54 % of adults were neutral or opposed to junk food advertising restrictions on social media. The odds of being neutral or opposed were higher among Non-Hispanic Black adults (v. non-Hispanic White; OR: 2 center dot 03 (95 % CI 1 center dot 26, 3 center dot 26)); those completing some college (OR: 1 center dot 68 (95 % CI 1 center dot 20, 2 center dot 34)) or high school or less (OR: 2 center dot 62 (95 % CI 1 center dot 74, 3 center dot 96)) (v. those with a college degree); those who were overweight (v. normal weight; OR: 1 center dot 42 (95 % CI: 1 center dot 05, 1 center dot 93)) and those reporting a moderate (OR: 1 center dot 45 (95 % CI 1 center dot 13, 1 center dot 88)) or conservative (OR: 1 center dot 71 (95 % CI 1 center dot 24, 2 center dot 35)) political viewpoint (v. liberal). Having strong (v. weaker) weight and diet-related cancer beliefs was associated with 53 % lower odds of being neutral or opposed to advertising restrictions (OR: 0 center dot 47 (95 % CI 0 center dot 36, 0 center dot 61)). Conclusions: The current study identified subgroups of US adults for whom targeted communication strategies may increase support for policies to improve children's food environment.