That was the week that was
Saturday, January 9, 2010 
Best PR stunt of the week was this new ad campaign for a health club in Bristol. Inevitably not everyone saw the funny side:
A spokesman for the Beat Eating Disorders association said: "This is a very unfortunate choice of words. People get fit and healthy when they are positively motivated and are unlikely to respond to such a negative message. Perhaps the gym should reconsider the approach."
Full story HERE.
As someone who is overweight, I think it's great. I am far more likely to respond to an ad like this than I am to a campaign that tries to nag or vilify me. ("If you smoke, you stink" comes to mind.)
Note to government, Keep Britain Tidy et al: if you really want to engage with smokers, learn from this campaign and add a touch of humour to your anti-smoking ads. It's not rocket science.
Simon Clark
Stories that (almost) passed unnoticed ...
1. Giving up smoking 'raises diabetes risk' (BBC)
2. Obesity 'now a bigger threat than smoking' (Independent)
3. Backlash over plan to extend TV advertising (Guardian)
4. Call for pre-9pm ban on alcohol TV ads (Guardian)
Note: check the rolling newsfeed on the Forest website for the latest smoking-related stories. Updated daily HERE.
Reader Comments (3)
Dunno about that Simon - The campaign against smokers did involve some humour in the early days then helpful advice but as some people refused to move along with the message, it got nastier and personal to the point we're at today.
What we are seeing is the first stages in the obesity campaign that will become as nasty as the smoking campaign, bit by bit, in time, as it also will on other matters of lifestyle choice.
I say we need health information and no more. We do not need insults - even those that SOME find funny. That way lies divide and conquer - and ultiamtely ostracisation as has happened with smokers.
Ps - if you're interested, I wrote this piece on my blog after a friend was a victim of passive obesity http://patnurseblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/danger-of-passive-obesity.html
How do they know the eating habits of Aliens ? maybe they are vegetarian health freaks ?
Maybe they smoke as well !
I would hazard a guess each flying saucer has a dashboard ashtray.
Have they not seen the Bar room scene in star wars ,some of the aliens are smoking.
Whoops shouldn't have said that as the Zelots will want to see that one censored.
LOL.