I was traveling this week and I am a little behind on some of the drama in the news. I first saw the Coca-Cola add earlier this week while I was sitting in the airport. Now, I generally tend to be a very positive person and try not to question the motivations of others (thinking we're all good, honest people) but this "commercial" in the "interests" of people around the world? Hmmmmm. I think I was further irritated after seeing the super-size Coca-Cola water bottles on the judges table on American Idol (it was on while I was in the gym). I'm a little late to the game with this blog post, but writing is my way of processing information and hopefully to make you think about the issues too.
I applaud Coca-Cola for recognizing that their products help contribute to global obesity and the resulting co-morbid disease that may occur as a result. However, I interpreted this ad as a bit of shameless advertising to not only protect the flagship name brand (Coca-Cola), but also to encourage us to consume their other products. I grew up with Coca-Cola but I was fortunate to have parents who did not allow us to indulge excessively. Coca-Cola was an expense, a nice-to-have and hence it was a treat. It is sad that today there are places where I can pay less for a can of Coca-Cola than for 12 oz. of milk. I won't get on my bandwagon about misaligned incentives, but honestly, why does it cost more to make healthy eating choices than to make choices that in the long-term will cost us all more?
I also need to comment on some of the subtle messaging at the end of the video: "All calories count, no matter where they come from. ... And if you eat and drink more calories than you burn off, you'll gain weight." It is true, calories count, but the negative health impact of Coca-Cola (and other sodas) is from more than just the empty calories.
Finally, I haven't seen many writers mention the issue of individual accountability, a topic which should be discussed more often as it relates to health and wellness. No one forces us to drink Coca-Cola; it is a choice. We have a choice to be responsible for our health and fitness. You're not going to get "buff" drinking Coca-Cola and I would submit that you won't get buff drinking some of their other "low calorie, low/no-sugar" beverages. Your Health is a Choice YOU make. Despite all that Coke, Pepsi and other manufacturers are doing, the bottom line is that as a nation, if we want different outcomes, we have to provide people with the opportunity to make different choices.
References:
Global Obesity Crisis
Coca-Cola Obesity Add
Huffington Post Article
"Honest" Coca-Cola Obesity Video
The Real Bears
Image: deserthealthnews.com