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The nutritional quality of individual items offered with kids' meals improved at some restaurants, but less than 1% of the 5,427 kids' meal combinations met recommended nutrition standards.

There was a 54% increase in the number of possible kids' meal combinations available in 2013 compared with 2010. However, there was no change in the number of combinations that qualified as healthy meals for elementary school-age children.

Only 3% of kids' meal combinations met the food industry's own revised CFBAI nutrition standards or the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell standards.

Children and teens eat an extra 126 and 310 calories, respectively, on days they eat fast food. Fast food consumption also increases the intake of sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and sugary drinks.

On average, U.S. preschoolers viewed 2.8 fast food ads on TV every day in 2012, children (6-11 years) viewed 3.2 ads per day, and teens viewed 4.8 ads per day.

Six companies were responsible for more than 70% of the TV ads seen by children and teens in 2012.

On average, US preschoolers saw 2.8 fast food ads per day, children saw 3.2 ads per day, and teens saw 4.8 ads per day.

The total number of TV fast food ads seen by children ages 6 to 11 decreased by 10% between 2009 and 2012, but there was no change in the number of ads seen by children ages 2 to 5.

The majority of fast food restaurants stepped up their TV advertising to children. Among the top-25 advertisers, 19 increased advertising to preschoolers and 14 increased ads to older children

McDonald's remained the only restaurant to advertise more to children than to teens or adults on TV.

McDonald's placed a total of 34 million display ads for Happy Meals on websites each month, a 63% increase from 2009. Three-quarters of these ads appeared on kids' websites like Nick.com, Roblox.com, and CartoonNetwork.com.

Healthier kids' meals were advertised, but represented only one-quarter of fast food ads viewed by children on TV.

Teens saw as many or more TV advertisements for Taco Bell, Sonic, and Starbucks than adults, although teens watch 30% less TV�thus these restaurants likely targeted their ads specifically to adolescents.

Fast food restaurants placed 6 billion display ads on Facebook in 2012, 19% of all their online display advertising.

Between 2009 and 2012, fast food restaurant likes and followers on Facebook and Twitter increased between 200% and 6,400%. Six fast food restaurants each have more than 10 million likes on Facebook.

Fast food restaurants continued to target black and Hispanic youths, populations at high risk for obesity and related diseases.

Black and Hispanic youth were more likely than their white and non-Hispanic peers to visit one-third or more of all fast food websites. For instance, Hispanic youths were 30% more likely to visit HappyMeal.com, while black youths were 44% more likely to visit.

Just give me the FACTS!

The 2013 FACTS about fast food nutrition and marketing to children and teens.

In 2010, the first Fast Food FACTS report documented the nutrition quality and marketing of fast food to children and youth. Three years later - using the same methods as the first report - Fast Food FACTS 2013 reveals how the fast food nutrition and marketing landscape has changed.

Explore the Fast Food FACTS website to learn more about the restaurants, menu nutrition including kids' meal combinations, marketing techniques, and the science behind the FACTS.

For the detailed report methods and findings see the Fast Food FACTS 2013 Report , Fast Food FACTS 2013 Report Summary, and Report Summary in Spanish.

The videos and infographics below highlight some of the report's findings.

Fast food companies pursue kids wherever they go:

Fast food companies spend billions on advertising:

Despite more choices, it's still hard to find a healthy kids' meal:

Fast Food FACTS was developed by the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. Learn more about the Rudd Center's research on food marketing to youth.

The 2010 report and report summary are available.

Press Release

Fast food companies still target kids with marketing for unhealthy products
In 2012 the fast food industry spent $4.6 billion to advertise mostly unhealthy products, and children and teens remained key audiences for that advertising, according to a new report by the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity. The report highlights a few positive developments, such as healthier sides and beverages in most restaurants' kids' meals, but also shows that restaurants still have a long way to go to promote only healthier fast-food options to kids.