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Yoplait Pulls Ad Accused of Promoting Eating Disorders

Health group says plot is too close for comfort

By Tim Karan,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 15, 2011 5:28 PM CDT

(Newser) – There's healthy, and then there's insensitive, argues the National Eating Disorders Association. General Mills has pulled a Yoplait commercial that NEDA says promotes anorexia and bulimia, reports Huffington Post. The ad depicts a slim woman standing in front of a refrigerator while she justifies eating a slice of raspberry cheesecake with promises of exercise and celery sticks. A skinnier co-worker then chooses a cup of Yoplait Light, and the first woman follows her lead.

The president of NEDA says she learned of the commercial after receiving emails and calls from people with eating disorders. For them, "opening a refrigerator is like walking off a bridge," she says. "And to see this behavior in a commercial tells people with eating disorders, see, it's even on TV. It's OK and normal for my head to go through all these mental exercises." A rep for General Mills says the company meant no harm. "The thought had never occurred to anyone, and no one raised the point. We aren't sure that everyone saw the ad that way, but if anyone did, that was not our intent and is cause for concern. We thought it best to take it down." Check out a slideshow of other campaigns that could be problematic.

General Mills has taken down a commercial that some say promotes eating disorders.
General Mills has taken down a commercial that some say promotes eating disorders.   (YouTube)
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Here's the ad.   (YouTube)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
tangeri
Jun 16, 2011 9:26 AM CDT
They should be on my diet: eat as much of anything you want as long as it's vegan. They'll lose weight without mental pains.
criminalsArestupid
Jun 16, 2011 8:31 AM CDT
A woman bends over to get clothes out of a dryer in a Tide commercial. Women who are assaulted by their husbands everytime they do the same thing at home may think that this commercial promotes spousal abuse. Where is NEDA on this one hmmmmm? Ancient Chinese secret........huh?
crafter67
Jun 16, 2011 8:22 AM CDT
meh, considering how many people are suffering from obesity in this country - encouragement to make a healthier choice shouldn't be discouraged - even in advertising...however it would be nice if the person going through the 'guilt' process was overweight instead of normal sized...

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