Dr Oz: Fat Shaming Ads
Dr Oz Ripped From The Headlines to bring us the hottest health headlines you’ve been asking about recently, with a panel of experts on hand to weigh in. What medical trends have been on your mind lately? From the fat shaming ad campaigns to schools giving out morning after pills to students, there was a lot to talk about.
Doctor Oz’s expert medical team for this discussion included:
- Dr Nancy Synderman, NBC News
- Dr Richard Besser, ABC News
- Dr Jon LaPook, CBS News (and Oz’s personal doctor)
Dr Oz: Strong4Life.com Fat Shaming Advertisements
Dr Oz & experts debated health headlines about fat shaming anti-obesity campaigns & morning after pill access for high school students.
Strong4Life.com has some confrontational advertisements featuring obese children in an effort to stem the tide of America’s obesity problem. But do these so-called fat shaming ads really make an impact? Dr Snyderman said this doesn’t work, and argued that it can be dangerous and devastating to shame teenagers during critical development.
Dr LaPook called it a form of bullying, but Dr Oz said that some kids might be unaware of the health crisis they are in. Dr Besser said that, as a pediatrician, he knows the patients and their parents are generally aware of the health problems.
School lunches, a lack of exercise, and processed foods were all decisions made by adults, and Dr Snyderman said that it’s adults’ responsibility to change things. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which commissioned the ads, explained that they have achieved their goals in Georgia, adding in a statement that 75% of parents are in denial about their children’s obesity.
Dr LaPook agreed that you have to set kids up for success by making healthy choices readily available.
Dr Oz: Weight Gain Prenups
Would you agree to a prenup if it regulated your weight or appearance? This is a new trend, according to Dr Oz. Dr Snyderman thought it was ridiculous. But Dr Oz centered his comments around weight. Do we have control over our own weight? Dr LaPook said this could open the door to other kinds of unenforceable stipulations.
Dr Oz: Do Supplements Work?
Do supplements actually work? Dr Oz said he gets this question regularly. Dr Snyderman said they are great in addition to a good diet, but she knows that not everyone is eating a balanced diet. She takes supplements, but tweaks her regimen and said she doesn’t believe all products have an effect.
Dr Besser said he doesn’t take medications, supplements, or vitamins. He said they aren’t for everyone, and should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Dr LaPook also doesn’t take vitamins, and his conclusion is that they could do as much harm as good.
But Dr Oz posited that low doses of vitamins are likely to be less harmful, and that the most controversial headlines typically revolve around cases involving large vitamin doses. But Dr Besser countered that these pills can’t make up for dietary issues.
Dr LaPook said this pill popping philosophy is making many patients’ problems worse. Do you take supplements regularly? See the Dr Oz Omega 3 Guidelines for one popular supplement discussed on yesterday’s show.
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