Abstract

Introduction: Advertising and marketing of energy dense nutrient poor foods and drinks or „unhealthy foods“ directed to children presents one of the major barriers for children to eat healthy. It has been proved that aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods has extremely negative effects on children knowledge, attitude and behavior related to consumption of unhealthy foods. Aim: presentation of dietary habit indicators related to consumption of unhealthy foods of school children in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Europe as well as existing binding international documents that call for putting marketing of unhealthy foods directed to children under control. Methodology: comparison of indicators of energy dense nutrient poor foods consumption derived from Health Behavior of School Aged Children Survey (HBSC Survey 2002/03) among children 11-13 years in Federation of BiH and in selected European countries and review of political strategic and legal documents that serve as base for development and implementation of measures related to control of marketing of unhealthy foods directed to children. Results: Results related to everyday consumption of sweet drinks (37,3%), sweets (59,6%), crisps (49,8%) and chips (47,5%) of children in FBiH showed that with Israel, Malta and Scotland, FBiH is among countries with highest percentages in Europe, and that grazing phenomena is extremely prominent–59,5% of children is snacking more than three times a day. Significant relation between frequent consumption of unhealthy foods and better socio economic status of family has been found in FBiH and that correlates with results found in developing countries of Europe. Conclusion: Unhealthy dietary habits characterized by high consumption of energy dense nutrient poor foods and drinks have been found in FBiH and this problem is widely present in European Region. As marketing of energy dense nutrient poor foods and drinks to children is first to blame for this problem measures for control of the marketing should become a priority.

Key words: school children, dietary habits, obesogenic environment marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks