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Coca-Cola: We Care About Obesity Too

The new ad is the first anti-obesity effort from a major soda maker

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by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t +

Image: YouTube

Coca-Cola's just released a new ad meant to highlight its devotion to good times, delicious beverages...and a healthy lifestyle. Really.

David Wagner at The Atlantic draws attention to the soda industry's apparently first real effort to highlight the problem of obesity. But while Coke's ad marks a precedent, it also falls short of appearing sincere, complain some detractors of the ad.

"Some are comparing Coke's new strategy to big tobacco's messaging on the health effects of smoking," writes Wagner. "Also, certain lines seem to be telling soda drinkers it's their fault that they're fat."

Not only that, but "for an advertisement supposedly about obesity, there's a notable lack of obese people here."

Watch the video below and judge for yourself if it's more than just empty calories:

Via The Atlantic.
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Is Coke's new ad a satisfactory effort to address the obesity problem?

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84 Comments (view in Forum)

  • Oneness3am_i
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    Do you know our Number One Lady_is a Warrior/ for this.. Man don't get me started.. ( look there is nothing wrong with a soft drink, as long as its mixed with a hard drink) spoken like a true alcoholic.. I'm joking.., I'm on the wagon just ask Jack and Daniel

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  • jessejaymes
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    OK this time I'm gonna get into it with the liberals. What else can you expect from a company trying to sell a legal product? They offer zero calorie Coke. Tastes like what I imagine toxic waste to taste like but they do offer it. It's not Coca Cola's place to simply go out of business because a bunch of low self esteem, no self control fat people can't control their own drinking habits. This is more than enough. Don't want to be fat? You have to to quit drinking regular soda among other things. Just the way it is. Coke did not place a guy with an assault rifle in your cart and make you buy it.
  • DARSB
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    Gotta love the "free market." Although this looks more like defensive merchandising than innovation, it still gives consumers more choice, which is generally the better thing to do.
  • jessejaymes
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    @DARSB It's what I call cover all the bases advertising. It's saying to those who quit coke as I did to lose weight, "hey we got something that's not that bad for you. Wanna come back?" they are a business. they are trying to make profit and they make massive profit. But they could probably make just as much without the expense of making, bottling and distributing those "slim brands". So they're trying to create a profitable market among the weight conscious. I don't blame them at all. As you say, more choice is generally the better thing to do.
  • martydotcom
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    @jessejaymes no mention of all the "health benefits" derived from their artificial sweeteners yummiest aspertine. First they cut the coke, then they replaced sugar with corn sweetener, now it's hardly worth getting out of bed to give the kids a soda and chips for breakfast
  • jessejaymes
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    @martydotcom and when is the last time you saw someone forced to buy any soda at the point of a gun? Life is full of choices. Americans tend to make the very worst possible choice it appears. You take out candy, other sweets, chips, hamburgers, pizza and I bet you a thousand dollars to a used condom that America could drink all the soda they want and still be 50% less fat than they are now.
  • martydotcom
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    @jessejaymes Let's see, in the last 7 decades, I guess I've seen a kid select fruit juice over soda 10 -12 times?? Accolades to Madison Ave advertising agencies

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  • jessejaymes
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    Yeah they really believe this. They offer tons of choices for the consumers most of which are far less damaging than their "big standard version". They are a legitimate business in America. Their product is well known as a fat cause and they have responded to the market demand with lesser fat causing products. It is not their responsibility to go out of business because you don't approve of them. I don't smoke but smoking is legal to sell. It's not like anyone with an I.Q. over 50 doesn't know smoking is bad for you. But some choose to smoke. Some choose to drink fat coke. some choose to believe in God. that's what freedom is all about. People making choices and living with those choices. I lost 40 lbs and had to give up my dear coca cola classic. It wasn't Coke's fault I guzzled 2 liters every day. I had the choice. So does the rest of America.
  • Mogal
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    @jessejaymes I think you're giving the general public too much credit for making wise choices in the area of food and beverages.
  • Mogal
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    @Denizen_Kate I agree totally, but being truthful about exactly what is in products would be a big help.
    They gave the equivalent of how much sugar is in coke and other stuff they make in sugar cubes on the news, I was horrified.
    Not that I drink soft drinks on a regular basis, never have, but still....
  • jessejaymes
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    @Mogal Doesn't matter if the public are screaming idiots. Why pick on coke? What about Fritos? Or Moon pies? Or Banquet TV Dinners? You can't force people to eat right. I thought you were against restricting what welfare people can buy with their EBT cards? But you are for restricting the rest of the non welfare obese? How does that work? People need to stop pointing fingers and taking some self responsibility. I have yet to find a device forcing my shopping cart into the cola aisle.

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  • DARSB
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    Regardless of their motivation this is a good move by Coke. If they can offer a popular product and contribute less to Adipose Nation, then that's a good thing, in my view.

    There's an old saying, "Doing good by doing well." This might be one of those situations.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    Looks like Coca-Cola and company know just how stupid we consumers are. Lower calories often equates to more chemicals in their beverages, which already contain enough carcinogens, thanks very much. I especially loved the bit about putting the stuff into smaller cans - right, that's going to help. Kids will drink two cans instead of one, at twice the price. Insidious. (Some of you may need to look that up.)
  • jessejaymes
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    On the other hand Coke isn't forcing anyone to buy their product. I roll right by these days. I skip the ice cream freezers and the chip aisle. So could fat ass America.
  • jessejaymes
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    @Denizen_Kate You know I stand in line behind two obese adults under 30 probably, two 5-6 year old obese kids and I watch as they pile sodas, chips, ice cream, pastry, the monster 30% fat Hamburger tube, hot pockets, TV dinners, and on and on and on. Not a vegetable or fruit in sight. And then the two little whales throw a fit for candy bars. And they get them. And we're gonna blame Coca Cola for that?
  • Mogal
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    Thats one of the reasons I have grown most of my own produce forever, along with keeping chickens, turkeys and geese, along with goats for milk and lawnmowing duty.

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  • jessejaymes
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    This is excellent advertising. They're offering choices and bragging about it. What do you want from them? Wear sackcloth, cover themselves in ashes and run commercials begging us not to drink coke because it will make us fat? Good luck with that.
  • MadAmerican
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    Duh-you can still drop a nail in it and in a matter of two days that nail is gone! Plus removes smoke residue from fireplaces mantels. Yep, sounds like a dangerous chemical that's why I dilute it with bourbon. lol
  • sapo9999
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    Looking for the real Coca?

    Coca powder various vitamins such as vitamins A, B-2, B-6, C and E, which helps improve the immune system. This can be a natural antiseptic and analgesic. It cleanses the digestive and other internal organs of the body. Thus, reducing and maybe even complete eradication of internal infections. Moreover, the coca powder gives a soothing sensation than can help a person feel less pain. It allows them to move freely, be healthy and feel comfort within themselves.

    Source: http://nutriperu.com/product.php...
  • DyingBreed
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    "Also, certain lines seem to be telling soda drinkers it's their fault that they're fat."

    That's bad why, if its true? Are people not expected to have self control, and take responsibility for personal choices anymore?

    Then again, I look at the Big Gulp ban, and I guess that's exactly what people think now.
  • Mia
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    They are simply caving to bullying tactics by this administration. They want to control businesses, diets, air, water, healthcare, education, electricity etc.... The list goes on and on.
  • equalityboy81
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    I'll add the they can help a lot by taking HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP out and instead putting SUGAR in like they used too. I believe sugar is healthier and less fattening than corn syrup. They need to stop being cheapskates. I don't care if I have to pay more. Sugar tastes better and feels much easier on the stomach. Bottled in glass with sugar tastes much, much better.
  • RobertJHarsh
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    Beat me to it. HFCS is the leading cause of obesity in this country. It needs to be banned as a food substance and replace it with sugar. Sell HFCS for car fuel.
  • DyingBreed
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    Its not that HFCS is cheaper, its that the cost doesn't fluctuate as much. Also, it may have something to do with government funded corn subsidies, but I'm not sure yet.

    Other than that, I agree with you. I wish we still washed and reused glass bottles instead of plastic for both flavor and environmental reasons. As for sugar, it just tastes better.

    Down here in Texas you can get Coka-Cola imported from Mexico. Made with real sugar, and comes in glass bottle. The taste is significantly better.
  • equalityboy81
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    @DyingBreed I think they should go back to using sugar in everything and canning most things in glass. I'd pay more for glass and it is more reusable and better for the environment. Once in a while I buy the glass Mexican bottled Coke with sugar at Wal-Mart for a buck. You can get the full sized bottle for a buck there and it's a cheaper deal than others stores or getting the smaller glass bottles. Now if they could have a Coke Throwback in the 2-liters and cans with sugar like they do canned Pepsi Throwback with sugar. I think Pepsi Throwback is a buck more but it's worth it.
  • Bobolinsky
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    I prefer Coke Classic because it isn't as sweet as Pepsi. I may be an oddball though because I prefer my coffee black and more resemblant of Maxwell House than Starbuck's so take it for what it's worth I guess.

    Should my opinion of Coke be any more in-depth than that?
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