The "no soda" pledge could start a revolution

The "no soda" pledge started by Katie Sullivan on her blog could start a revolution according to Fooducate that republishes it. I agree. If you look at the comments posted on Katie's blog you can see they are exclusively positive. She is preaching to the choir. It would be interesting to see how to present the pledge to a different audience like... the readers of The Root for instance?

BofA-Merrill Lynch report about global obesity: obesity control is a "megatrend"

As reported in Business Week. “Global obesity is a mega-investment theme for the next 25 years and beyond. Obesity may be the most pressing health challenge facing the world today and efforts to tackle it will shape thinking by policy makers and in boardrooms around the world,” said Sarbjit Nahal, equity strategist at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research.

How to talk/write about obesity in the black community without mentioning soft drinks once

The Root has been publishing a series of interviews and articles about obesity in black americans and recently a conference in DC. What is amazing is that I could not find any reference in any of the contributions to soft drinks or sugary beverages: none. Any explanation? Marion Nestle wonders about influential sponsors. I do too. This post addresses the way the industry has especially and very effectively targeted the black (and hispanic) communities. It refers to an opinion piece published in the advertising magazine Ad Age that salutes such "smart marketing". Disgusting. One more reason for a Surgeon General's report... more explicit than the paper on Oral Health, The Silent Epidemic where Regina only mentioned "lowering sucrose intake, reducing acidic beverage consumption"...

A critical opinion of the Olympic sponsors in The Observer

Here the opinion piece of Andrew Rawnsley (below an extract focusing on health).

The worst Olympic sponsors?

According to Greenwashgold.org. They also target Coke for its behavior in India. Mark Thomas about how Coca Cola was also a sponsor of the Berlin Olympics in 1936. The whole documentary is on YouTube.

Product placement: Coca Cola and the movies

Tobacco Control advocates fought (are fighting) against product placement in the movies. The same product placement strategy is used by Coca Cola (and other soft drinks manufacturers) as shown in this infographics that finds the process very positive. This is a key component of the strategy to normalize drinking Coke, while obesity control advocates should push for the exact opposite.

One dollar any size soft drink

On a Seattle bus this morning

Is the obesity control movement taking advantage of the podcast technology?

What about producing regular audio programs (maybe in different time formats) that could be made available via PRX and other platforms? When is the last time you heard a valuable story about the obesity epidemic on your favorite radio? Today NPR airs a story from Alaska about health coaches. Fair enough although how many companies provide health coaches, how many overweight people can afford a health coach? The story does point out to simple choices that made a difference (like quitting soft drinks and moving more).

Big Food vs Big Insurance?

Michael Pollan wrote the opinion piece Big Food vs Big Insurance in September 2009. Almost 3 years later, is such a confrontation taking place?

The men who made us fat is now available on YouTube

There are 12 episodes, all worth seeing. One could imagine shorter segments that would focus on one specific issue as many people will not care to watch the whole program.

A good picture is worth a thousand words

This image was picked up by the Rudd Center from the Wild Alchemist's Truth to be told gallery (scroll down to the very last) that contains a few other powerful ones. It-s always useful to be able to provide journalists with good pictures while they often pick up bad ones if left without an illustration.

Another request for a Surgeon General's report on Soda

Visiting the site of the Center for Science in the Public Interest I find about a letter sent today to request a Surgeon General's report about Soda. The American Cancer Society Action Network had sent a similar letter 16 days earlier, on July 3d. Today's letter is signed nearly 100 health organizations and 20 prominent individuals. One article mentions the effort was coordinated by the CSPI. What about starting a petition to support he letter requesting the Surgeon General's Report?

The Story of Change

What can the obesity control movement learn from The Story of Change? And from Michael Pollan's blog a link to a short video about the Omnivore dilemma on YouTube.

What about stand up desks?

Many articles about the health risks of sitting too much.
An argument for stand up desks from this Microsoft blogger and this article and video from the Miami Herald. And the infographics sitting is killing you.

Can we learn from sumofus?

Sumofus.org is organizing consumers campaigns... Can the obesity control movement learn from them? Take for instance the campaign concerning the elimination of gestation crates for raising pigs.

Oxfam's America Grow Campaign

Can this new campaign by Oxfam's America have an impact on people's behavior? What about the previous partnership of Oxfam with Coca Cola? Will it influence possible advice about sugar drinks?
New York Times article. Grow's page on Facebook

The diabetes 2 epidemic in Kentucky

Article in the Kaiser Health News about Gilbert Friedell and his initiatives to combat diabetes 2.

The couch potato goes global

The New York Times expands on the recent articles published in The Lancet about the negative health impact of physical inactivity.

Where is the Surgeon General?

Where does the present Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin, stand as far as obesity control is concerned? In 2009, she was "accused" of being overweight and therefore disqualified to address this issue. I would rather see that as an incentive. In any case, the Surgeon General can be in a very strategic position, provided he/she is ready to use her bully pulpit. But is she?

International Obesity Forum on LinkedIn

Interesting initiative by Neville Rigby, using LinkedIn to bring together obesity control advocates. As of today there are 598 members.