Last time we all met in protest of the Strong 4 Life billboards in Georgia we amassed over 23 MILLION impressions on twitter within ONE HOUR on twitter. A very impressive feat and very strong demonstration of how people in social media feel about shaming children into better health. But our campaign to stop the billboards in Georgia is NOT over. There are several still up in Atlanta in some of the poorest neighborhoods where the obesity rate is very high. Why must the poorest children be made to feel so ashamed? We still have power to stop this! This is a fight about empowering children, not demeaning them and making them feel shame. No one here denies the fact that Georgia has the 2nd largest childhood obesity rate in the nation, but we feel in order to combat this statistic, it needs to be done in love and support….not with shame.
Fight obesity, not obese people…
Join us on Thursday, February 16th from 9-10pm EST using the hashtag #Ashamed to once again stand in protest against the Strong 4 Life billboards in Georgia.
Supportive Community Leaders Who are Joining Us:
1. @Bookieboo
2. @Resourcefulmom
3. @MommyPR
4. @Cecilyk
5. @Typeamom
6. @Redneckmommy
7. @5Minutesformom
8. @Stacieinatlanta
9. @Crissy
10. @Sugarjones
11. @Dadstreet
12. @Mrsfatass
13. @Runhers
14. @Mommywantsvodka
15. @Daily_pinch
16. @Princesstimetoys
17. @Youngmommy
18. @JessicaNorthey
19. @CarissaRogers
20. @Mmangen
21. @ErinMargolin
22. @TaraZiegmont
23. @Curvygirlguide
24. @Drmommy
25. @Stefanpinto
26. @Andreametcalf
27. @According2Kelly
28. @CarlaYoung
29. @Jenniferminer
30. @AnissaMayhew
31. @KellyOlexa
32. @Runeatrepeat
33. @reallifesarah
34. @PhdinParenting
35. @Momfluential
36. @TheSoftLanding
37. @OurOrdinaryLife
38. @Looneytunes
39. @Fitarella
40. @The818
41. @Jessicanow
42. @Highimpactmom
43. @Robynsworld
44. @Tobyamidor
45. @Genuine
46. @HowtobeaDad
47. @ScritchfieldRD
48. @MaryHartleyRD
49. @LeahMcgrathRD
50. @Aspiringmama
(more to come…)
More information from Yale University about “weight bias”, how prevalent it is at home and school, how children are affected, and what you can do at home with your own children to help with the problem. Not only is childhood obesity a problem, but the way these children are treated presently actually does more harm than good. Makes me think that part of the solution NEEDS to include more tolerance, not shame.
Giveaways:
1. $50 Visa gift certificates compliments of Mamavation (2 winners)
2. Book: Naked Fitness from @AndreaMetcalf (1 winner)
3. Videos: @AndreaMetcalf Pain Free (10 winners)
4. Videos: @AndreaMetcalf Keeping Fit for Women over 40 (3 winners)
5. Book: Health at Every Size donated by @FeedMeImCranky1 (1 winner)
6. Hoodie: DietsinReview Hoodie from @Dietsinreview (1 winner)
7. T-Shirts: DietsinReview T-shirts from @Dietsinreview (5 winners)
8. Book: The Spark from @wideloadroad (1 winner)
9. Perfume: Amazing Grace fragrance set from @Weightsover (1 winner)
10. Portion Control: Meal Measure Portion Control Tool from @Weightsover (1 winner)
11: Conference Ticket: One Bloggy Bootcamp ticket of your choice (1 winner you choose St. Louis, Philly, Dallas or Las Vegas)
12. Gift Card: One $50 gift card via @youngmommy (1 winner)
13. Conference Ticket: One Type A Conference Pass (1 winner)
(more to come…)
How to Enter (must be present to win, comment for every entry):
1. Tweet this message (1 entry per tweet)
I’m joining #Ashamed movement 2 stop @Strong_4_Life billboards. Fight obesity, not obese people…& NEVER shame children! http://bit.ly/yUvLLK
OR
THURSDAY #Ashamed Chat from 9-10pm EST. I oppose the shaming of overweight children in GA. Will u join us? http://t.co/OWqWU52
2. Share this post on Facebook (1 entry)
3. Tell Strong 4 Life how you feel about their billboards on their Facebook Wall here (1 entry)
4. Tweet to any media outlet letting them know about our chat on Thursday (1 entry per tweet)
If you would like to join us in protest simply hit the linky below.
Disney Junior’s Jake and the Neverland Pirates Giveaway
I RSVP’d @tbc6374
I am in full support of not shaming our children!! Children have enough bullying at school without harassment from the media!
I was the fat girl all my life what you are doing to these children are wrong, you may say they are actors, but I say they are someones kids. They are real CHILDREN who do not ever need this in there life! I beyond upset at this. I have two young boys who know that they do not call anyone fat, ugly or unpretty because God made them. You should reach out and motiative not take away from these kids please help them,!
I will be there to support!
I do not feel this campaign is making obese children feel ashamed. On the contrary, I feel it empowers them and shows that they are not only aware of their health issues, but are willing to face them, and the difficulties of obesity, imminent premature type2 diabetes, bullying because of obesity, etc. straightforwardly, courageously, and factually. It takes tremendous integrity and strength for these kids to be depicted like this and to kick start action that will enable/empower them to address their issue NOW, instead of struggling for the rest of their lives with their health as well as enduring the emotional roller-coaster, discrimination, torments and drawbacks of struggling with obesity into the rest of their childhoods, teenage years, young adulthood, and/or however long they stay obese. It is well known that the problems only compounds with age and probability of recidivism only gets greater the longer a person waits to address starting and achieving weight loss. Thus, I feel strongly that it is our responsibility to communicate these facts and to not mollycoddle our youth who are already obese or who are headed toward obesity. I would feel ashamed if we didn’t hit them with the stark message, given the chance. I think if any of these children in these ads are asked — they would agree! 🙂
Can’t wait to get into this chat.
I’m definitely not saying that they are worth less. They will have more difficult lives. Aside from the health issues, kids these days wear skinny jeans and black workout pants–kids are also cruel and severely obese kids will get left out. It’s going to be a more difficult–and probably limiting–life if they are severely overweight.
I don’t mean to be judgmental, I just think thank you guys are off the mark on skewering a company that’s trying to help a huge problem with by shocking people and getting them talking about it… which by the way… we are.
this is terrible this will be my 2nd time join in I am not from this state but it doesn’t matter any child displayed for any purpose is a hell no! I’ll be there in support! thank you for having this awareness chat.
How much more humiliation do overweight children need?! Give it a rest!
Also, it’s not meant to shame children. It’s meant to shame parents because their kids won’t live easy lives if they are obese.
That girl is really fat. She shouldn’t be that fat. It’s her parents fault, but she should take come accountability as well. I think it’s good for kids to know that it’s not ok to be that fat.
I was there at the first twitter chat and plan to be there this time too. NOT ok to shame our kids
Shame is NEVER an effective tool. Ever.
I wrote on Strong 4 Life’s FB Wall: instead of a link thought I’d copy and paste what I wrote here in case it disappears from there:
I think that a whole different approach should be made by Strong4Life to fight obesity. Instead of shaming the kids you have plastered on your billboards with cut-downs concerning their looks, approach them with positive encouragement of ways to help them have a healthier lifestyle. I just don’t get your psychology of knocking kids down with negative words in an effort to build them up to make positive changes in their lives. It seems contradictory to me! Please step back and see how each of you at Strong4Life would truly feel if it were your child on that billboard with those hurtful, degrading words. I think the answer is pretty obvious, you wouldn’t like it at all and you would be taking measures to insure that those billboards come down to protect your child’s mental well-being. Love the children, hate the obesity. And, for goodness sakes, keep them separated!!!
I posted on the Strong 4 Life Facebook page. I said I disagreed with the campaign and that there were much better ways to tackle the problem. I have a funny feeling my post, though non-inflammatory, will be removed because I basically saw no posts on their wall with an opinion such as mine. 🙁
No they did-ent! Count me in!