TITLE
Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets
DESCRIPTION
Coca Cola has funded a group of research scientists (grants and research funds) regarding the topic of obesity in children and adults. The scientists have stated basically that “exercise” was a better way to manage weight and that consumers need not worry much about calories — drinking soda in this instance. Coke has funded a nonprofit and a social media campaign with that message. Other companies (soft drink and snack foods) have also done similar campaigns. All of this has occurred as a strategy to boost lagging sales. The company’s campaign has been to use social media to get out its message that soda drinking is not harmful but can be OK with exercise. (New York Times, August 9, 2015)
“Meanwhile, the evidence continues to mount that sugar-sweetened drinks are a major contributor to obesity, heart disease and diabetes, and that exercise makes only a modest contribution to weight loss compared to ingesting fewer calories.”(New York Times Editorial, August 14, 2015)
SOURCE
New York Times, August 9, 2015
LINK TO RESOURCE
(shortened URL) http://tinyurl.com/q76h52z
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•Focus on the issue of research and funding.
•Orient the discussion away from opinions to scientific thinking and evaluation.
•Can scientists be objective when receiving monies from corporations?
•How is research affected when the scientist may have a conflict of interests?
•How is social media used to convey messages to the public in the form of public service when these are actually advertising?
•Ask the students whether they believe that educating the public about sugar/calories/health concerns makes any difference. Ask them about their own habits.
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