Strategically Communicating

Most of you probably remember the video I showed in class Wednesday featuring Taco Bell’s drive-through diet spokesperson  preparing for a marathon. I decided it would be interesting to research how viewers and health professionals have responded to this “healthier” campaign by Taco Bell. I found the following article on CNN, which includes some excellent points about the sensibility and credibility of the ads and premise of the “drive-through diet.” Check it out and tell me what your thoughts and opinions are: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/01/05/taco.bell.diet/index.html

(My own thoughts about the article) :

Notice that the spokesperson, Christine Doughterty lost only 2 lbs per month for two years. That is an amazingly slow rate of weight loss for someone as active as she is, and shows how much faster she could have achieved these results with a better nutritional balance. Also, Doughterty says she ate Taco Bell regularly before starting her “diet”, so the biggest change she made was switching to meals on their Fresco menu. As the dietitians point out in the article, you could lose weight in a variety of ways by simply reducing your calorie intake per day.

My favorite quote from the article was from Joan Salge Blake, registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association,”It’s the Drive-Thru Diet. That’s what I think is funny. I have to chuckle. One of the issues perpetuating weight problems is that we’re more sedentary than ever. We shouldn’t be going to the drive-through. At least park the car and walk in and get it.”