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The breakfast cereals that are marketed specifically to children are not as healthy as those developed for adults. That is the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

The researchers looked at 161 cereals between January and February of 2006. They classified 46% of those cereals as being marketed to children. For example, if the packaging contained a licensed character or contained an activity directed at children, the cereal was deemed to be marketed to children.

The authors of the study wrote that, “Compared to nonchildren’s cereals, children’s cereals were denser in energy, sugar, and sodium, but were less dense in fiber and protein.” They also found that, “The majority of children’s cereals (66%) failed to meet national nutrition standards, particularly with respect to sugar content.”

If you’d like to read the study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association cited above go to: Examining the Nutritional Quality of Breakfast Cereals Marketed to Children