McDonald's Says It's Time To Exercise - NYT

[hatrack]

"McDonald's, has a suggestion for Americans, who are becoming obese in alarming numbers: get some exercise. The company, under fire from those who say its food plays a role in the nation's obesity problem, introduced a marketing campaign yesterday promoting physical activity as part of a balanced life. The theme: "It's what I eat and what I do ... I'm lovin' it."

The campaign includes commercials that largely dispense with traditions like showing the product, the restaurants or people eating food. One spot even tells viewers, "Maybe you should spend less time with your TV."

"McDonald's has a longstanding tradition of taking action where we can make a difference," James A. Skinner, vice chairman and chief executive, said in introducing the effort.

The campaign comes as McDonald's faces a reinstated lawsuit seeking to hold the company liable for obesity and heart problems in two teenagers who ate its food. McDonald's and many large food companies face accusations that their marketing, particularly advertising aimed at children, hurts consumers' health. While critics called the campaign a diversion from the accusations over obesity, others gave it measured support. One analyst suggested it mattered less than the sales figures McDonald's also released yesterday."

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/09/business/media/09adco.html

[meegbear]

1. How about "Don't eat here"?

Now there's a healthy suggestion.

[hatrack]

8. "Exercise" your right not to eat their swill!

Haven't set foot in a McDonald's for 20 years other than to use the bathroom.

[robbedvoter]

2. Just saw "Supersize this" - you should too.

Theis salads by the way have as much fat&sugar as the Big Mac (dressing).
Don't eat there!

[LiberalVoice]

6. "Super Size me"?

:D I saw that movie about 4 months ago and since then have not had a single thing from there. I went from having McDonalds at least two times a week to zilch and I lost twenty pounds. Three of my friend sI watched it with also have lost weight since they quit going too.

[Skidmore]

3. Wanna go bench press a couple of quarter pounders today? nt

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

4. They are misleading people because

exercize is great for your health and helps maintain your weight, but overweight people still do not lose weight without calorie decrease, especially as you get older.

I exercize 5-7 hours a week and have tried all the different diets over the years -- low fat, low carb, blah, blah, blah -- the only thing that ever works when the pants start getting too tight, is fewer calories. That MacDonald's food is way too high in calories for any "balanced" diet.

[Betsy Ross]

5. Eliminate drive-thrus? n/t

[dubyaD40web]

7. File under "No Shit"

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Open a Ronald McDonald center for obesity

and keep selling your fatty greasy prefabricated foods that have almost no nutritional value, your salads which are twice as fattening as your burgers and your cokes the size of Hoover Dam. Keep lobbying congress to weaken laws and regulations concerning foods and keep hawking your gut bombs in school districts. Then you can make money on every angel of this.

[Cocoa]

10. I'm loving getting lectured to

by a megacorporation. :thumbsup: