Is First 5 Photoshopped Childhood Obesity Awareness Poster A Faux pas?
June 12, 2013An Image Photoshopped to Make a Little Girl Look Chubby Causes Controversy
A California organization that focuses on developing and implementing integrated programs that will benefit the education and health care of young children has caused quite a stir with it’s latest childhood anti-obesity ad campaign. The government run agency, First 5 California, released educational posters across California that featured a smiling, overweight little girl sipping on a straw coming from a packet of sugar. (As pictured above on the right) Underneath the photo, the caption read:
“Sugary drinks like juice, sports drinks and soda can cause obesity. Choose milk and water instead."
So what’s the big deal? According to some, the fact that the little girl in the photo is not really overweight. Her picture was Photoshopped for the poster to make her like like she was chubby. As you can see by the featured photo in this article, the original photo, which is posted on the First 5 website shows a much thinner, healthier looking little girl sipping milk. That didn't set well with many including Marilyn Wann who first posted publicly about the misleading ad. Wann is the author of the book, "FAT!SO?: Because You Don't Have to Apologize for Your Size" and posted the actual photo next to the Photoshopped photo on her Facebook wall and commented:
“How creepy is it to Photoshop this child in this manner? If public health messages lie like this, why should people trust them?”
She went on to write: “The fattened image seems to me to be what people *fear* fat people are. (Also, obviously, what fat children of color are?)”
Wann also posted on Tumblr:
"Children deserve to be protected from this kind of damaging fearmongering. (And from creepy Photoshopping!)
First 5 spokesperson Lindsay VanLaningham defended the Photoshopped image saying that the image was just a stock photo that was intended to make parents aware of the true consequences of childhood obesity.
"When you are handing a child soda or a juice box to drink you might as well be handing them a packet of sugar. Because that's what happening." VanLaningham said.
The First 5 childhood obesity campaign isn't the first to be met with a backlash. There seems to be controversy and criticism in the midst of other childhood obesity awareness campaigns as well. Last year, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Strong4Life campaign was blasted for using real overweight children in their ad campaigns. Some health experts thought that the campaign was too blunt and stigmatizing to overweight kids and even a form of fat-shaming to kids who already know that they are overweight.
The show The Doctors weighed in on the The Strong4Life ad campaign controversy in this video below:
http://youtu.be/U2JwopiBywg
Your Voice Matters! So, is the First 5 photoshopped childhood obesity awareness poster a faux pas or not? What are your thoughts about these childhood obesity awareness ad campaigns? What do you think about using photoshopped images to make a child look more overweight? And what are your feelings on featuring real children who are fighting the stigma and illnesses that are associated with obesity? Share your comments below!
*Featured photo via Marilyn Wann (Facebook)
