The Coke’s On Us

Recently the Coca-Cola Co. aired an anti-obesity commercial hoping to save some face for the company. It seems that soda sales have dropped since research has won out that soft drinks can be bad for one’s heath. The commercial on the whole aims to communicate how Coca-Cola is making changes in their drinks to lower calories, and at the same time, they claim, being more intentional with what products they offer in schools. You can take a look at the commercial here:

Honestly, this commercial bums me out. I do appreciate Coca-Cola’s decision to offer more drinks with fewer calories for those people interested in cutting back (on calories, not Coke). However, I can only half-way applaud them regarding this commercial, specifically, because they are, in fact, still selling the products that are known to increase obesity. And yet, the commercial clearly communicates the company’s efforts to bring obesity down. How can it do both? While aiming to cast the company in a positive light, the commercial is still an ad– and at the end of the day they want consumers to buy their product. Even though the health side of the research isn’t in Coca-Cola’s favor, the company holds amazing sway over the way people view drinking soda. If a company can offer a less-sugary drink to consumers, then of course the numbers are going to show that. But does the decrease in sugar consumption (specifically tied to soft-drinks) match a decrease in obesity? No one really knows.

Is drinking Coca-Cola the cause of obesity? In some cases, the numbers suggest that to be the case. Is the occasional Coke now and then problematic? Who’s to say for certain. It’s not up to a company to end obesity. Those in the Coca-Cola industry can try to do their part to ease the numbers, but they can’t control the outcome.  Decisions are made on an individual basis regarding health and wellness. You can know something is good for you and you can know something is bad for you, and you have to be the one to make health-related decisions. I think I’ve made mine.