To really dislike MN weightloss adverts. Constant. Fat-shaming

[lakesidelagoon]

There are two in particular by Zava, a weight loss injection distributor. The photos are of a perfectly happy, smiling woman walking along with her two children enjoying the day. I guess she is overweight, but not spectacularly so. Why have they put children in the advert? Why are these two adverts being shown constantly every time I visit MN? I only visit weight loss injections once every couple of weeks. But these adverts by Zava are constantly bombarding me, no matter where I am on the site, every time I visit. I don’t usually use the phrase “fat shaming” but in this case I will. I have tried to attach one of the photos so you get an idea. But MN may not allow me to attach, as sometimes they mark photos as sensitive. The other photo is a woman walking in the park laughing with her children. Advertising weight loss injections is fine of course, but why these rude, negative photos?

So mumsnet shouldn’t advertise popular and life saving products because it makes you feel ashamed ?

my guess is they include children because wanting to stay alive for your children , promote healthy lifestyle your your children is important drivers for many women who are often also busy and stressed and don’t prioritise their own health enough

You're going to have to explain what's shaming about this.

People don’t like being fat, really. “ fat shaming’ is encouraging people toward health, away from over consumption. It’s fine.

there are three zava adds on this page alone. And yesterday they were all over the site as
well as promote posts it’s constant.

no one is saying weightloss is bad. But consistently bombarding a womens/mums focussed site with weightloss stuff daily is pretty grim

OK, maybe I’m being over sensitive.

First it’s the bombardment.

Second, the implication that this happy mum enjoying her life needs to diet. She might be happy with her weight, or is that not allowed, is the implication I feel.

Third, the fact there children.

Thank you @beAsensible1 . Yes. It is TOTAL bombardment. It doesn’t matter what part of the website you’re visiting. It’s really over the top.

I don’t even notice them. Not an issue for me. What I dislike about mumsnet are political echo chambers and pearl clutching pile ons.

You can usually get rid of ads you don't like using the ad preference options or closing them if they have a close option.

I personally don't think these adverts are fat-shaming or negative. The woman in the one you've pictured is obese, so more than just overweight, which would make her the target market for WLI. She looks lovely and happy though, so I am not sure what is shaming about it? It would be worse if they had an image of a sad woman, looking unattractive and suggesting that the way to be happy and attractive is to lose weight!

It is to target a certain demographic, and make lots of money out of them. It is as simple as that.

I’ve tried to get rid of them by going to add choices. But I can’t!!!

Reading this thread back just now, Zava have four adverts!

Not a problem as far as Im concerned.
They are of lovely curvy ladies looking happy & enjoying themselves. Absolutely no shaming there whatsoever.

My personal dislike is when people/the press refer to weight loss injections as Fat Jabs. Now that is fat shaming, towards the people who are on medication to try and lose weight

This is mums net, it's primarily for mothers, mothers have children, hence they are understandably marketing here towards mothers with children.
It's mildly irritating at most, that they have so many around the screen and in-between posts, but if it bothered me that much I would pay a subscription fee and get rid of the ads.

Seems to me that the ads are already preaching to the converted and possibly it would be nice to see some other types of advertising here just to break it up a bit?

this is my screen right now

She's overweight and looks happy. How does that suggest being fat is shameful?

How is the presence of children suggesting being fat is shameful?

There's a fuckton of actual fat shaming out there. This isn't it.

I'm not touchy about my weight, so they don't bother me.

And "curvy" these days often means obese. People don't realise how much bigger society has got.

I haven’t noticed the ads but I do think that photo is a horrible choice because the mum looks happy and active. Surely weight loss products should be targeted at people whose health or lifestyle is compromised by their weight 🤷🏽‍♀️

She's obese. We seem to have lost sight of what that means/is, these days.

And btw I'm a couple of stone overweight, but I have clear sight of that and don't pretend to myself that being "happy and active" doesn't mean I'm bordering on obese, for my height.

@Mumofmarauders you can be happy and active and still have your weight compromise your health. Obesity always carries a risk of health problems even if they are not apparent right now. The woman in the ad is obese, not just overweight, and so has a higher risk of cancer, stroke, high BP, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and so on. Ads with pictures of miserable and deliberately unattractive/unwell looking women would be awful and much more shaming than this one.

Advertising weight loss injections is fine of course

It's not. Prescription only medications, including WLI, cannot be advertised and can be reported to the MHRA at [email protected] with screenshots etc

But the ads try to very carefully to only advertise their "weight loss service" and don't mention the medication (although we all know that's what it is as they appear only on this board and the weight loss board - perhaps MHRA would be interest in that.....).

They advertise by showing people with body shapes that potential customers can relate to.

I think it is wrong to advertise prescription medication and I was under the impression it was illegal in this country, so I'm with you on this.

I don't think it's shaming, but it is advertising! I don't know how they get away with it! https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advertise-your-medicines#overview

Theye're not advertising medication. They're advertising their service. Just like a private hospital can advertise, or Boots.

I think it's bloody awful tbh and we should put a stop to it. (I'm happily on WLI myself - I'm objecting to the advertising not the product)

Do you mean the adverts here on MN or just generally the advertising of medicated weight loss services, @Lanva ? Or the advertising of medical services in general, whether for weight loss or other things?