mc_squared Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 '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/article-1240978/Aliens-eat-fatties-Gym-sparks-outrage-new-advertising-campaign.html#ixzz0bpClSlMt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iPsy Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 :laugh3: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxus vahlii Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Who ever finds this offensive is an idiot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Who ever finds this offensive is an idiot. Definitely!:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffire Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsalyers Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hmm interesting!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reilly Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I use sarcasm a bit too much these days. no! really? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reilly Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Well noooooo of course I dont :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berrywoman Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 :laugh4: oh no oh no!!! The aliens are coming for me!! eeeek! :rolleyes: only in the UK, eh lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 :laugh4: oh no oh no!!! The aliens are coming for me!! eeeek! :rolleyes: Did you over-indulge over Christmas?:stunned: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petit Prince Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffire Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reilly Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaLouiseSmyth Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 They should have a sign outside Mcdonalds saying, Fat People are harder to kidnap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldplay Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 ^ How would they get business then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaLouiseSmyth Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 ^ How would they get business then? Then people would eat there, :D to gain weight, so they'd be harder to kidnap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 They should have a sign outside Mcdonalds saying, Fat People are harder to kidnap. Even better would be if they changed its name to FatDonald's.:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffire Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 McDonald's should be the name of an Irish pub, not a burger joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted January 10, 2010 Author Share Posted January 10, 2010 McDonald's should be the name of an Irish pub, not a burger joint. It is!!:P http://www.irishemigrant.com/ie/pubs.asp?pub=304502 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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