Outraged - Change4life - Complaints

[Alba37]

Just had a reply to my email to Chief Medical Officer's office stating that due to the high volume of emails received it will take up to 20 days to reply!!

OMG!

Someone got a resonse from the Advertising Standards Authority, saying all complaints have been grouped together and have gone to council, who will decide if it's to go further.

 

[Katharine]

The advert has struck on a truth. Most of us would indeed be better off on a paleo diet and plenty of exercise. The trouble is, it will the the UK Food Standard's agency rubbish they want us to eat, not what our pre-agricultural ancestors ate.

 

[Alba37]

I've signed it...

has anyone thought about making a facebook page/group for this petition

Thanks!

Facebook page here, http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5 ... ef=profile - it's doing pretty good. A few newspapers are interested in stories so far.

 

[Alba37]

The advert has struck on a truth. Most of us would indeed be better off on a paleo diet and plenty of exercise. The trouble is, it will the the UK Food Standard's agency rubbish they want us to eat, not what our pre-agricultural ancestors ate.

Hi Katharine!

How are you? How's things?

Some papers have slated the campaign, as it's sponsored by Pepsi, and some cereal company etc! Not the healthiest way to live!

 

[Alba37]

I have signed the petition for type 1 children and think this campaign will lead to a lot of bullying, and also to adults with type 1 diabetes but I am unhappy about the wording of the petition as it implies that people with type 2 (like myself) have done something 'wrong' to have type 2 diabetes. It is bad enough that the media always mentions lifestyle is the cause of type 2 diabetes when it is plainly not the only cause, the same as with heart disease and cancer. Some people are lucky enough not to get heart disease, cancer, emphysema or lung cancer even though they have smoked a lot or/and drunk a lot of alcohol so a lot of people are overweight (and have been nearly all their long lives) and yet will not come down with diabetes. Obviously having a healthy lifestyle will go a long way to help prevent chronic disease but it doesn't guarantee that you will not get a chronic disease as asbestos, air pollution and other environmental hazards and genetics play their part too. Diabetes may actually cause a person to be obese when it is uncontrolled, I know it is the reason I have lost a lot of weight so now I am a thin type 2.

I totally agree Jen, and I feel so sorry that the wording is upsetting people. I'm Type 2 also, and like I've said, my diet may have been involved on my onset (who knows) I also have a large (not as in fat!) family history of T2. I also know many T2's who have had the healthiest lifestyle and diet possible and I am well aware T2 not at all always lifestyle releated, if at all.

The petition was worded by a young T1's Dad. He maybe doesn't know much about T2, and has only heard the hype.... I don't know. I expect more than anything he was thinking of his son when he wrote it. I'm sure though he didn't intentionally mean to upset anyone at all.

Thanks for signing.

 

[jenrose]

Hi

My stepson (19 years old) friend is type 1, and he also knows a other type 1 teenagers from when he was at school so I am aware of what it is like for children and teenagers with type 1 and I feel this campaign may well lead to bullying for children at school and college etc. There seems to be a lot more young people with diabetes type 1 at school these days. When I was at school in the 1950s/60s I didn't know anyone, and my sons didn't ever mention any of their friends as being type 1 diabetic when they were at school in the 1970s/80s. I put the facebook monster on my facebook but I don't know to share it with my facebook friends. What a good image.

 

[Doczoc]

Hmmmmm call me paranoid but that petition looks like the type 1s are trying to distance themselves from the fatties who have brought it on themselves.

 

[HLW]

That's exactly what I thought when reading that petition. It doesn't matter if that is not what is meant, or that people have tried to explain that that isn't what is meant further on in this topic. Like the campaign that is being complained about, first impressions count. I'm sorry, I won't be signing the petition.

It reads like 'my child is being bullied for having type 1 diabetes because the campaign says that diabetes is caused by being fat and lazy. Please change the campaign so that only children with type 2 diabetes are bullied'.

I know that's not what you mean, but that is how the petition reads.

 

[catherinecherub]

I have signed the petition but have also used the other email addresses to voice my concern about the portrayal of type 2's. This is a good chance to let type 2's try and stop the stereotyping.

 

[sixfoot]

I also wont be signing the petition, i started another thread on the Campaign because i believe it is yet further extension of the line we have been fed up to now.
I like others read the petition. Whilst well meant i am sure, it simply says stop blaming T1`s .

 

[Trinkwasser]

Sorry but while I agree with the idea of not stigmatising Type 1s I am equally not in favour of stigmatising Type 2s so will NOT be signing the petition

It's not meant to stigmatise anyone, at the end of the day we are all diabetics. The message is no Type 1 got diabetes through an unhealthy lifestyle, and as such the campaign is misleading.

Ah but I think the entire campaign IS intended to stigmatise in order to save money on treatment for those who don't "deserve" it. Which would be the people who bought the low fat myth hook line and sinker and still don't understand why they are getting ill and blowing up like barrage balloons.

I'm cynical enough to believe they failed to distinguish between Type 1 and Type 2 deliberately in order to achieve just exactly this result. Divide and conquer (and sell guns to both sides)

 

[Doczoc]

It's not meant to stigmatise anyone, at the end of the day we are all diabetics. The message is no Type 1 got diabetes through an unhealthy lifestyle, and as such the campaign is misleading.

Whether it intends to or not the inference gained is that Type 1s are not to blame but Type 2s probably are!

 

[wkdweewitch]

Hi Trinkwasser, perhaps you are right about the Gov wishing this unintentioned divide between us? I presumed they were just ignorant & too lazy to have a medical person check it?
Here's an idea for all those who are offended by the wording on the petition- start your own petition. State that the Gov need to be aware that Type2 is not soley caused by lifestyle, that you are all healthy but were unfortunate to develop it, say how genetics are a major link & how that is not your fault either. I for one will sign it happily, as I'm sure others will, anything that gets people discussing Diabetes on the whole can only be good for us all. Dispel the myths & educate (correctly! Unlike our Government!). Let us know.........

 

[Insulinman]

Fergus I Think

YES BUT some twenty years ago I had a (GP) Hospital Doctor come into my then Shop
"Are yes YOUR Diabetes is caused by Overweight"
"er pardon i'm 9stone 7lbs have been all my life"
the QUACK "no diabetes is ONLY caused by being overweight????"
I was then on 6 jabs a day, so I said to the Quack
Thank you, GOOD BY, AND PLEASE DON'T come Back.

Diabetics DO NOT NEED Bad Doctors or BAD Adverts!!! we have enough problems.

 

[smcc]

I can sympathise with those type 2s who are lean and fit, but in my experience these are rara aves. One thing I don't understand is why some people seem to need a walking club in order to go walking. It really is quite simple. Put one foot in front of the other, then repeat the process. It does not matter where you do your walking.

 

[IanD]

I can sympathise with those type 2s who are lean and fit, but in my experience these are rara aves. One thing I don't understand is why some people seem to need a walking club in order to go walking. It really is quite simple. Put one foot in front of the other, then repeat the process. It does not matter where you do your walking.

As a lean & fit T2 who brought up the subject of walking clubs as I tried to get useful info from the campaign - all solo activities are potentially boring & need a lot of motivation to sustain. Club activities are much more sustainable.

I know that if I want, I can find local walking groups. I won't be going to Milton Keynes for the nearest club listed.

 

[winksey]

I was told on the 23rd of dec 08 that I have diabetes (SHOCKED but doin ok
Im type 2 not fat size 12.
after watching that ad my son says are you going to die soon because you are unhealthy and have diabetes now.
good one change4life.
A good long chat put my son in the real picture.
They should nag the food makers to take out sugar its not needed in food as there is way to much in food.WHY.

 

[sugarless sue]

Welcome to the forum Winksey, misinformation just seems to be a way of life now for type2's .Stick with us and hopefully ,one day the media will wake up to the truth.They really have not considered the effect that this advertising campaign will have on children have they.?
Please have a good read round the forum and ask us questions.

 

[smcc]

I can sympathise with those type 2s who are lean and fit, but in my experience these are rara aves. One thing I don't understand is why some people seem to need a walking club in order to go walking. It really is quite simple. Put one foot in front of the other, then repeat the process. It does not matter where you do your walking.

As a lean & fit T2 who brought up the subject of walking clubs as I tried to get useful info from the campaign - all solo activities are potentially boring & need a lot of motivation to sustain. Club activities are much more sustainable.

I know that if I want, I can find local walking groups. I won't be going to Milton Keynes for the nearest club listed.

Ian,

I agree that some people find solo activities boring, but walking is part of most people's daily activity. It is not unusual for me to walk on my own 2 1/2 miles into town, and occasionally walk back. As a 66 year old type 1 diabetic of 40 years standing, I have just returned home from an hour+ in the gym (another solitary activity) and feel much better for it.

 

[catherinecherub]

Having signed the petition, but objected strongly about stereotyping T2's on the email addresses supplied, I have now received an acknowledgment from 10 Downing Street. In it they state: - "YOU MAY WISH TO BE AWARE THAT FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH D.U.K., THE DEPT. OF HEALTH HAVE DECIDED TO MODIFY THE CHANGE4LIFE ADVERTISING MATERIALS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT OBESITY LEADS TO TYPE 2 DIABETES.
So now we are going to be stereotyped even more with the blessing of D.U.K. Surely they of all people should know that there are other factors involved in T2 diagnosis.