'Aliens will eat the fatties first': Gym sparks outrage with new advertising campaign

mc_squared · 06-01-2010, 10:02 AM

'Aliens will eat the fatties first': Gym sparks outrage with new advertising campaign

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:10 AM on 06th January 2010

An advert for one of Britain’s biggest gyms has sparked outrage by declaring: ‘When the aliens come, they will eat the fatties first.’
The campaign, featuring a little green man, was meant to encourage people to join up and shed pounds put on over Christmas.
But instead slimmers have branded the ad in offensive and weight loss experts said the ‘negative message’ is more likely to drive people away.

'Offensive': The ad for Cadbury Gym, Bristol, was intended to encourage slimmers

Signs put up near the health club and spa at Cadbury House Hotel in Congresbury, Bristol, read: ‘Advance health warning! When the aliens come, they will eat the fatties first.’
However, mother-of-two Vicky Palmer, who suffered from an eating disorder as a teenager, believes the sign should be removed immediately.
Mrs Palmer, 45, of Churchill, Somerset, said: ‘I would like to think that their hotline is very “hot” with people phoning to complain about this degrading and offensive advertising.
‘I am not overweight yet I still find this extremely offensive and patronising but how much more so to someone genuinely overweight?
‘People who have a weight problem may also suffer with low self esteem and this advert is not going to help them in any way.
‘The people who came up with this idea and sanctioned the advert need a good, stiff kick up the backside, and if that backside is a rather bony one, then they will feel this all the more.’
The health club and spa is attached to the 72-bedroom Cadbury House Hotel, which is part of the prestigious Hilton Doubletree chain.

However, the centre, which boasts two gym studios, a spa, salon, bistro and won European Club of the Year in 2007, is managed separately to the hotel.

Defensive: Gym manager Jason Eaton stands beside one of the roadside signs

The club, which is one of the largest independent health clubs in the UK, has two purpose-built studios along with a spa, salon and bistro.

It employs a team of personal trainers and offers more than 100 fitness classes each week.
Health club bosses claim they launched their advertising campaign last week in an attempt to persuade people to shape up after Christmas.
But a spokesman for the Beat Eating Disorders association believes the ‘negative message’ will not work on potential customers.
He said: ‘This is a very unfortunate choice of words. People get fit and healthy when they are positively motivated and are unlikely to respond to such a negative message.
‘Perhaps the gym should reconsider their approach.’
Local resident Alison Winter added: ‘I am shocked and disgusted that they feel they have the right to blatantly discriminate like this.’
But club manager Jason Eaton defended his campaign as a ‘fun’ way to approach the subject of obesity.
He said: ‘The alien campaign has been developed as a tongue in cheek look at the fact that people generally, over the Christmas period, do put on a little weight.
‘Our view is that people should not feel stigmatised by the use of the word “fatties” as it encompasses everyone who might have over-indulged during the holidays and now wants to do something about it.
‘At the club we are doing all we can to combat the problems of obesity and our advertising has to get the message over in a forthright but fun way.
‘We do not intend to cause any offence to anyone.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0bpClSlMt

iPsy · 06-01-2010, 01:34 PM

Buxus vahlii · 06-01-2010, 08:18 PM

Who ever finds this offensive is an idiot.

mc_squared · 06-01-2010, 08:19 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heey Yaaa!;3877539
Who ever finds this offensive is an idiot.

Definitely!

Saffire · 06-01-2010, 10:07 PM

lol that's actually a pretty clever advert.

A lot of overweight people enjoy being fat though. It's psychological - they find life easier without unwanted sexual advances... and being bigger makes you feel safe. Also society expects less of fatties.

There's a whole field of study on this, it's pretty interesting.

Jsalyers · 06-01-2010, 10:22 PM

Hmm interesting!!!

Reilly · 08-01-2010, 04:38 AM

I'm offended because its so mind-numbingly stupid.

Yes, Im sure this 'joke' will make people change their lifestyle, eat less and go to the gym.

I use sarcasm a bit too much these days.

Tnspieler1012 · 08-01-2010, 04:42 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reilly;3880508

I use sarcasm a bit too much these days.

no! really?

Reilly · 08-01-2010, 05:05 AM

Well noooooo of course I dont

berrywoman · 10-01-2010, 06:01 AM

oh no oh no!!! The aliens are coming for me!! eeeek!

only in the UK, eh lol

mc_squared · 10-01-2010, 11:13 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by berrywoman;3884726
oh no oh no!!! The aliens are coming for me!! eeeek!

Did you over-indulge over Christmas?

Petit Prince · 10-01-2010, 03:58 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saffire;3877652

A lot of overweight people enjoy being fat though. It's psychological - they find life easier without unwanted sexual advances... and being bigger makes you feel safe. Also society expects less of fatties.

I don't think anyone enjoys being overweight.

Saffire · 10-01-2010, 06:46 PM

Sally, I can link you to an interview with a psychologist who's interviewed hundreds of obese people, and he says many of them admit they secretly prefer being fat.

Reilly · 10-01-2010, 06:52 PM

I can understand that, if you have really low self-esteem as a person, being obese means that you don't have to worry as much about how you look or what people think of you. It makes sense.

EmmaLouiseSmyth · 10-01-2010, 06:55 PM

They should have a sign outside Mcdonalds saying,
Fat People are harder to kidnap.

06-01-2010, 10:02 AM	#1
mc_squared Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 67,519 My Mood: Location: Wherever life takes me Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	'Aliens will eat the fatties first': Gym sparks outrage with new advertising campaign 'Aliens will eat the fatties first': Gym sparks outrage with new advertising campaign By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 9:10 AM on 06th January 2010 Comments (0) Add to My Stories An advert for one of Britain’s biggest gyms has sparked outrage by declaring: ‘When the aliens come, they will eat the fatties first.’ The campaign, featuring a little green man, was meant to encourage people to join up and shed pounds put on over Christmas. But instead slimmers have branded the ad in offensive and weight loss experts said the ‘negative message’ is more likely to drive people away. 'Offensive': The ad for Cadbury Gym, Bristol, was intended to encourage slimmers Signs put up near the health club and spa at Cadbury House Hotel in Congresbury, Bristol, read: ‘Advance health warning! When the aliens come, they will eat the fatties first.’ However, mother-of-two Vicky Palmer, who suffered from an eating disorder as a teenager, believes the sign should be removed immediately. Mrs Palmer, 45, of Churchill, Somerset, said: ‘I would like to think that their hotline is very “hot” with people phoning to complain about this degrading and offensive advertising. ‘I am not overweight yet I still find this extremely offensive and patronising but how much more so to someone genuinely overweight? ‘People who have a weight problem may also suffer with low self esteem and this advert is not going to help them in any way. ‘The people who came up with this idea and sanctioned the advert need a good, stiff kick up the backside, and if that backside is a rather bony one, then they will feel this all the more.’ The health club and spa is attached to the 72-bedroom Cadbury House Hotel, which is part of the prestigious Hilton Doubletree chain. However, the centre, which boasts two gym studios, a spa, salon, bistro and won European Club of the Year in 2007, is managed separately to the hotel. Defensive: Gym manager Jason Eaton stands beside one of the roadside signs The club, which is one of the largest independent health clubs in the UK, has two purpose-built studios along with a spa, salon and bistro. It employs a team of personal trainers and offers more than 100 fitness classes each week. Health club bosses claim they launched their advertising campaign last week in an attempt to persuade people to shape up after Christmas. But a spokesman for the Beat Eating Disorders association believes the ‘negative message’ will not work on potential customers. He said: ‘This is a very unfortunate choice of words. People get fit and healthy when they are positively motivated and are unlikely to respond to such a negative message. ‘Perhaps the gym should reconsider their approach.’ Local resident Alison Winter added: ‘I am shocked and disgusted that they feel they have the right to blatantly discriminate like this.’ But club manager Jason Eaton defended his campaign as a ‘fun’ way to approach the subject of obesity. He said: ‘The alien campaign has been developed as a tongue in cheek look at the fact that people generally, over the Christmas period, do put on a little weight. ‘Our view is that people should not feel stigmatised by the use of the word “fatties” as it encompasses everyone who might have over-indulged during the holidays and now wants to do something about it. ‘At the club we are doing all we can to combat the problems of obesity and our advertising has to get the message over in a forthright but fun way. ‘We do not intend to cause any offence to anyone.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0bpClSlMt __________________ LIFE ISN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY Be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Work to live - don't live to work...................... Age is purely a state of mind! Don't waste your time on jealousy. Success is a journey, NOT a destination. Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint! http://www.generationterrorists.com/...sunscreen.html

06-01-2010, 01:34 PM	#2
iPsy Here Comes The Flashover! Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7,924 My Mood: Location: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	__________________ http://www.last.fm/user/PsyPsymon 4/12/11- MANCHESTER M.E.N ARENA ...Proud fan of PARADISE, ETIAW & MAJOR MINUS

06-01-2010, 08:19 PM	#4
mc_squared Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 67,519 My Mood: Location: Wherever life takes me Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by Heey Yaaa!;3877539 Who ever finds this offensive is an idiot. Definitely! __________________ LIFE ISN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY Be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Work to live - don't live to work...................... Age is purely a state of mind! Don't waste your time on jealousy. Success is a journey, NOT a destination. Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint! http://www.generationterrorists.com/...sunscreen.html

06-01-2010, 10:22 PM	#6
Jsalyers 1 2 3 Will Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 15,277 My Mood: Location: Where everybody's got somebody to lean on Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hmm interesting!!! __________________ Chris- "Me and Jonny certainly love each other" Jonny- " Ya we're very happy together" Chris- " We're very happy together" Now the sky could be blue, I don't mind http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...joepic3jt2.jpg Without you its a waste of time The LOOK™ by Jonny Buckland ® Joe and Min

08-01-2010, 04:38 AM	#7
Reilly District 9er Badazz!11111 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 36,016 Chat posts: 63 Thanks given: 45 Thanked 337 Times in 193 Posts	I'm offended because its so mind-numbingly stupid. Yes, Im sure this 'joke' will make people change their lifestyle, eat less and go to the gym. I use sarcasm a bit too much these days. __________________ This door... ...needs some WD-40. Quote: Originally Posted by Fix42YellowClocks I cannot argue my point of the seemingly conflicting idea of why I have the right to argue people shouldn't be allowed to tell Coldplay to stop expressing themselves without a fundamental argument to the freedoms we enjoy. Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

06-01-2010, 08:18 PM	#3
Buxus vahlii Banned Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,886 Location: The Sunshine State Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Who ever finds this offensive is an idiot.

06-01-2010, 10:07 PM	#5
Saffire Classically liberal. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,406 My Mood: Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	lol that's actually a pretty clever advert. A lot of overweight people enjoy being fat though. It's psychological - they find life easier without unwanted sexual advances... and being bigger makes you feel safe. Also society expects less of fatties. There's a whole field of study on this, it's pretty interesting.

08-01-2010, 04:42 AM	#8
Tnspieler1012 Come On, Let's Go Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 12,247 My Mood: Location: Prague, Czech Republic Gender: Country: Chat posts: 1 Thanks given: 60 Thanked 132 Times in 81 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by Reilly;3880508 I use sarcasm a bit too much these days. no! really? __________________ "So I wanna live in a wooden house, where making more friends would be easy, I wanna live where the sun comes out..." Quote: Originally Posted by Karencorpse;4818717 Tnspieler1012 seams like a very interesting guy who has lots of interesting things to talk about and great things to do with her. Quote: Originally Posted by eff-exx;5237716 You're like the ultimate post-rocker in this forum. Quote: Originally Posted by Til_Kingdom_Come;5509315 Ha Ha!!! I guess you suck at geography as well as Rock music!!

08-01-2010, 05:05 AM	#9
Reilly District 9er Badazz!11111 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 36,016 Chat posts: 63 Thanks given: 45 Thanked 337 Times in 193 Posts	Well noooooo of course I dont __________________ This door... ...needs some WD-40. Quote: Originally Posted by Fix42YellowClocks I cannot argue my point of the seemingly conflicting idea of why I have the right to argue people shouldn't be allowed to tell Coldplay to stop expressing themselves without a fundamental argument to the freedoms we enjoy. Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

10-01-2010, 06:01 AM	#10
berrywoman Guy-a-licious Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 27,692 My Mood: Location: New York Cares Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	oh no oh no!!! The aliens are coming for me!! eeeek! only in the UK, eh lol __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/berrychen/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://nyc-specialist.tumblr.com/

10-01-2010, 11:13 AM	#11
mc_squared Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 67,519 My Mood: Location: Wherever life takes me Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by berrywoman;3884726 oh no oh no!!! The aliens are coming for me!! eeeek! Did you over-indulge over Christmas? __________________ LIFE ISN'T MEANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY Be yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks. Work to live - don't live to work...................... Age is purely a state of mind! Don't waste your time on jealousy. Success is a journey, NOT a destination. Life is a marathon, NOT a sprint! http://www.generationterrorists.com/...sunscreen.html

10-01-2010, 03:58 PM	#12
Petit Prince Coldplayer Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6,896 Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 3 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts	Quote: Originally Posted by Saffire;3877652 A lot of overweight people enjoy being fat though. It's psychological - they find life easier without unwanted sexual advances... and being bigger makes you feel safe. Also society expects less of fatties. I don't think anyone enjoys being overweight. __________________

10-01-2010, 06:46 PM	#13
Saffire Classically liberal. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,406 My Mood: Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sally, I can link you to an interview with a psychologist who's interviewed hundreds of obese people, and he says many of them admit they secretly prefer being fat.

10-01-2010, 06:52 PM	#14
Reilly District 9er Badazz!11111 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 36,016 Chat posts: 63 Thanks given: 45 Thanked 337 Times in 193 Posts	I can understand that, if you have really low self-esteem as a person, being obese means that you don't have to worry as much about how you look or what people think of you. It makes sense. __________________ This door... ...needs some WD-40. Quote: Originally Posted by Fix42YellowClocks I cannot argue my point of the seemingly conflicting idea of why I have the right to argue people shouldn't be allowed to tell Coldplay to stop expressing themselves without a fundamental argument to the freedoms we enjoy. Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?

10-01-2010, 06:55 PM	#15
EmmaLouiseSmyth smile like you mean it. Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14,942 My Mood: Location: Rand McNally Gender: Country: Chat posts: 0 Thanks given: 11 Thanked 91 Times in 60 Posts	They should have a sign outside Mcdonalds saying, Fat People are harder to kidnap. __________________ Quote: Originally Posted by Brent I mean if I had to choose the way I was going to die, Chris Martin running me over with a rolling desk chair would be at the top of the list tumblr twitter