advertising imagery

Obese people should go vegetarian, or so says PETA.

The much maligned animal rights group's new message is, "Save the Whales" by giving up meat if you need to lose weight. It's clever, but is it effective?

This bus stop advert in The Netherlands is linked to a set of scales that shows the weight of the person sitting in the shelter.

The ad is for Fitness First (a gym). Presumably you're so embarrassed the public display of your weight - that you go running for the nearest Fitness First...

Now, it's not nearly as bad as Skynet becoming self aware, but it isn't good either. Researchers from the University of Illinois claim after being exposed to advertisements promoting exercise, people actually experience an increase in appetite and eat more.

The UK Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a Weight Watchers radio ad is misleading and "must not be broadcast again in its current form."

Weight Watchers claim their program is "not a diet" - but it seems some people beg to differ (something discussed in detail on this site).

This photo was taken in Kentucky, USA.

(cc) flickr / merfam

Advertising is all about provocation. In a world that is overloaded with media and imagery advertisers are always looking for ways to make the message stand out.

This campaign claims that obesity is suicide. Is this a public service campaign or something else...?

Using sex to sell products and services is nothing new. In fact when it comes to the fitness industry, it is pretty common. But there seems to be a very thin line between progressive marketing and overt sexuality - with Equinox Fitness Clubs pushing the boundaries. In January, the high-end fitness center with 41 clubs launched their "Happily Ever" campaign - a $3-5 million promotion that features some very provocative ads.

Check out the print ads below:

Here's a useful "diet dodge": Enjoy an ice cream shortly before lunch - it will prevent overeating at lunchtime.

Good advice? Am I serious?

If you happen to see someone burying their face into People magazine this week - it'll be the lickable ad in action.

Welch's Grape Juice has somehow been embedded into a full-page advert.

"Onslaught" is the follow-up video to the award-winning advertising campaign Evolution.

"Talk to your daughter before the beauty industry does"

From 1959 comes this classic ad: "Choose the chocolates that can help keep you slim."

Maltesers (balls of honeycomb surrounded by chocolate) were popular in the UK (in the US, Hershey's Whoppers are similar).

As seen in the print advertisement below - some marketers are masters of twisting words.

"I just love to dance - always did. But it got so the men simply would not ask me. I could see them looking my way and shrugging their shoulders. It was heartbreaking."

So goes a newspaper advertisement from the 1930s. What was the answer to the heartbreak?

Marmola. 4 times a day.

The quotes from these vintage ads (from the 1940s) proclaim: “Every woman has a figure problem!”

These old-fashioned ads (from Corsietere) show great similarities to today's marketing mix. This advertising brainwashing (complete with ludicrous before and after images) assured women that they were not thin enough or appealing enough for the world . Sound familiar?

An interesting Brazilian advertising campaign for yogurt depicts larger women in familiar poses from American movies.

The message is confusing... what's your take?

The clipping displayed below was handed to me by a good friend. She was so annoyed that she ripped it straight out of a magazine (from a waiting room somewhere).

The fact that advertising is a provocative medium is old news - but the subject matter here can be a rather... sensitive issue to some.

What do you think?

A collection of posters and billboards with interesting messages.

Bird's Eye foods are tackling childhood obesity with this ad (see below). It's admirable that they are addressing nutritional issues with their foods - but there is something about food companies "fighting obesity" that makes me cringe.

I'm not sure if these are on TV yet, but here are two Dove commercials that are - quite frankly - superbly done.

Get ready to see Mickey Mouse's grinning face on an apple carton near you. Disney have created a new brand "Disney Garden" that uses produce from over 15 growers and will be packaged with Disney characters (see Imagination Farms). Already available are peaches with Daisy Duck and Goofy stickers, and table grapes packaged in Mickey and Minnie Mouse boxes. Organic apples with Winnie the Pooh -- the mascot for Disney Garden organic selections -- are due out sometime in September. (via CNN)