Are diet adverts fake news?
Protein world are again making the headlines with their recent poster showing Khloe Kardashian in a leotard. The watchdogs have given the poster the all clear, but calls to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to ban it from the London underground network grow."People complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that it was socially irresponsible because it promoted a competitive approach to dieting"
The ASA (Advertising standards Authority) is under pressure to crack down on advertisers who objectify and sexualise women or present unrealistic body images yet the poster (below) seems to have crossed this boundary.
In previous clashes with the ASA, printed promotional material was stopped, not due to the body image depicted, but the associated poster text contained series of unsubstantiated health and weight loss claims for Protein World supplements.
What are the real issues for "fake news"?
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
What constitutes a realistic promotion of weight loss?
Where is the boundary set for body shaming?
Is a picture of a slim person shameful?
Is a picture of an obese person shameful?
Do you want to see an aspirational picture at all?
Do you want to see an aspirational picture at all?
If we are not wanting to see aspiriational pictures of weight loss, what is the overall message we as a society want to give, when it comes to weight and health? Would we be happier seeing pictures on billboards depicting the effect obesity has on the heart, or the liver, as we currently see on cigarette packets?
What would you like to hear when it comes to weight loss claims? Weight loss reduces risk from many long term health conditions; hypertension, cancer, type 2 diabetes to name a few. If a diet achieves weight loss the health benefits follow, so surely claims are always possible to be made? How can we substantiate the claims so you know what to expect?
How do you get through the fake diet news and answer these questions?
Our best advice is to try and avoid taking adverts at face value and consult your healthcare professional. Your doctor or pharmacist will draw from their knowledge on overall health, medical conditions and weight management to give you the tailored advice needed to diet successfully and healthily.
The network of pharmacies across the UK and Ireland, supplying the Lipotrim pharmacy programme, are not only highly trained in weight management but also have the ability to audit their weight loss data. These pharmacies and other healthcare professionals can quickly give you an up-to-date snap-shot of the weight loss results they are achieving.
Lipotrim is an evidence based, nutritionally complete weight management programme run by qualified health professionals.
Call Lipotrim on 0800 413 735 for advice or to find your local pharmacy
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