There's been a lot of uproar in obesity circles over Michael Phelps' endorsement deals with Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and McDonald's. Some folks have even forwarded me the articles figuring I'll take out my mallet and hammer Micheal good.
Well folks, sorry to disappoint.
While I certainly don't think that Mr. Phelps' choice of partners belies a healthy lifestyle, where in the Olympic rulebook does it say he's only allowed to endorse healthy products?
Sure, in an ideal world Mr. Phelps might have turned down those endorsements but in place of what? Does someone have millions of dollars to throw at him to endorse broccoli?
Mr. Phelps isn't a doctor, a dietitian or public health advocate. He's a swimmer. If you really want to pick on someone for their inappropriate McDonald's endorsement try dietitian Dr. Rovenia Brock (aka Dr. Ro) or physician Dr. Dean Ornish.
Stephanie, one of my office's front-desk administrators had this to say,
"Although he has the opportunity, he isn't required to set a wonderful example. Working hard and winning a bunch of gold medals in sports... I guess that just isn't a good enough example.I couldn't have written it better myself.
Putting his face on something kids are already eating and possibly inspiring them to try swimming or sports in general, now that's awful!"
Posts
Phelps has the right to endorse any product he chooses, but is he really eating these foods? I was under the impression that elite athletes had to avoid such things like McDonald's food. Is it honest of Big Food to say look, eat our crap and you too can be an olympic athlete? One of the things that struck me was the comments under all of these Phelps bashing articles. THey are filled with people proclaiming "it is not the Frosted Flakes that make kids fat, it is because they do not exercise". So it seems as though there is a disconnect between slapping Phelps on the back for claiming he slurps down fast food and then insisting it's the food, not the exercise. If we are concerned about the messages sent to children, we need to continue to be concerned.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous:
ReplyDeleteI'd be certain he's eating Frosted Flakes and McDonald's. He has to consume 12,000 calories a day. As Yoni has said, 12,000 calories is 12,000 calories.
Big food isn't saying - eat our crap and you can be an olympic athlete. They're saying this guy eats our crap. They let the target market make their own conclusions.
Of course there is still a misconception that exercise is the only way to lose weight. And that's Big Media for you. Big Media that sells lots and lots of magazines, books, products...
If there is a disconnect, it is coming from people we are supposed to put our trust in. The government programs, doctors, dietitians, etc. telling us how to live a healthy life. You know, the ones that get the payoffs from 'big food'. The ones telling us that eating a burger and fries contains x amount of your daily intake under the food guide, and if you can qualify it under the food guide, well then it must be part of a healthy diet.
Stephanie - the reception-y girl.