Get Healthy with a Pop
by Joey Tung
It’s no shocker that obesity rates are on the rise. It’s also no surprise that the blame for obesity has fallen on the soda and fast food industry. So why do these companies like to depict healthy and physically active people on their television commercials and advertisements? What happened to truth in advertising?
One particular soda company that comes to mind when it comes to promoting a healthy lifestyle: Coca-Cola. Over the years Coca-Cola has been an active sponsor in major sports competition such as the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. They have also hosted healthy lifestyle initiatives to help get people get off their bums and on their feet.
Does this take away from the fact that their product is one of the main components of an unhealthy diet?
This method of depicting an image that is so vastly different from what we know to be true seems to be the company’s subtle way of diverting attention away from the non-nutritious aspects of the drink and shifting the blame from them to the consumer. In a way, they’re trying to say that if the drinker gains weight, it’s not Coca-Cola’s fault; it’s the drinker’s.
On the surface, Coca-Cola seems to be proud supporters of reducing the obesity trend. In truth, they are using such marketing methods to detract attention from the unhealthy downside of the sugared drink while also increasing their product sales and target market.
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I agree with what Joey is saying; Coca-Cola is promoting a healthy lifestyle that is contradictory to its product. They are creating the false image through advertising that drinking Coke will make you healthier. I do believe this is unethical as it is hiding the truth and possible negative health effects that drinking pop has. Although it is a very inspiring ad, that I’m sure catches people’s attention and makes them feel better about drinking Coke.
While watching the video you linked, Joey, I couldn’t help but shake my head — because you’re exactly right. Coca-Cola’s product is not related to a healthy lifestyle at all, and in fact, if that video had been shown without the Coca-Cola logos everywhere, I would never have guessed that it was anything related to the soft drink brand. On one hand, I do understand that they’re trying to emphasize how drinking Coca-Cola’s product doesn’t lead to unhealthiness, but that isn’t true. Although at our age, we’re fully aware of this, it’s the younger, more impressionable generation seeing these kinds of ads that worries me. All in all, I think you’re bringing up an excellent point with this post.
I also agree that it is very ironic that Coca-Cola is giving off an image of healthy living when their product is the complete opposite. Their major sponsorship involvements at the pinnacle of physical performance sporting activities is something that should be frowned upon. Similar to McDonald’s sponsoring the Olympics, Coca-Cola is something that athletes would not choose as their ideal workout drink. It is indeed a very good advertisement, but it is deeply masquerading the predominant factor that Coke is actually unhealthy. In fact, an advertisement like this would further motivate already unhealthy people to consume their products, under the false image of buying into a healthy lifestyle.