One of the most frustrating things I've had to accept (not really accepted) is that media often puts its focus on gimmicks, trends, and quick fixes when it comes to fitness and weight loss.
Even more frustrating is when you see an article that is legitimate be plagued by advertisements promising quick fixes. When I used to write for the Atlanta-Journal Constitution it was infuriating. Usually, my articles were surrounded by weight-loss centers that injected hCG, phentermine, and vitamin B. However, there was not a lot that I could do about it as publications need to make money.
Part of the problem has also been that publications have been bound to its advertisers. Most "fitness" publications usually have this issue. It's going to be difficult to speak about how illegitimate a product is, if the product maker is advertising in that publication. Some are worse than others, as the publisher could care less about providing good information. Their sole purpose is to make money. Some local Atlanta publications come to mind, which is the reason why I NEVER advertised with them. These publications are also suffering because of the fact that they do not provide good information.
It's for this reason that many fitness professionals have sought out blogs and social media to have their voice heard. Social media is changing all media! The thing of it is, very rarely is the information about us (like this newsletter). It's about the you, the public. We care so deeply about the dismal health of our nation and understand its repercussions. More importantly, we serve as consumer advocates of fitness and weight loss. Unlike Clark Howard, we dispense the information for free (don't get me wrong, I like Clark Howard).
Since I have been blogging and providing news feeds on Twitter and Facebook, I encounter more and more people thanking me for the inspiration. This is very encouraging for me as well, as there was a time that I was going to give up. Unfortunately, the mass media is still caught up in the "celebritism" of fitness versus seeking true professionals for guidance and good information. However, I am encouraged that this trend is beginning to change as I have seen articles from regular journalists pointing out the misconceptions of weight loss and fitness products.
An example of such an article was recently in USA Today, titled "As far as weight-loss quick fixes go, consumers on their own", written by Yasmeen Abutaleb. Basically, it explains that consumers are throwing money down the drain when purchasing weight loss products. Recently on CNN, I have seen medical commentators speak of the benefits of the new drug Qnexa, conversely, they are quick to point out the draw backs. Some of them even mention that they are cautious about prescribing it and probably wouldn't prescribe it.
Though, we, as fitness professionals, know that there is still a long road ahead. Media is finally pointing out the fallacy of weight loss products, but less so with diets and fitness trends. For now, I'm going to keep this article positive and say that I applaud the new movement. It is my hope, that the general media will continue to focus on encouraging its readers and viewers to make the right decisions as opposed to getting caught up in trends and gimmicks that often cause more problems and solve none.
written by:
Kelly Huggins
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