This flyer has been sitting on my desk staring at me for weeks now. I wasn’t sure what to do with it until I got a second one! Is the shot nurse trying to tell me something? I think yes. Luckily, I realize how absolutely outrageous and incredibly irresponsible this ad is. Sadly, not everyone will.
At first, I was furious, given that much of my practice is devoted to helping those who suffer from eating disorders. Just one more advertisement suggesting that a normal, healthy female must try harder to achieve an unrealistic ideal and that this magical little shot could deliver it. I’m guessing that many of you can look at it and quickly pick out the appalling subtleties!
Here are just a few:
- a NORMAL weight young woman apparently distraught on a scale
- there is an assumption that number on the scale needs to change
- the hope that a shot, with only the support of “case reports,” will promote weight loss (even unnecessary weight loss)
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, at least 10 million females suffer from anorexia or bulimia (this doesn’t include those who suffer from binge eating disorder, compulsive overeating, or other eating disorder types). Study upon study suggests that advertisements and media such as this play a significant role in the development of disordered eating and body image issues.
It’s very disturbing to think this ad originated from “health care practitioners”. I’m not so sure health and safety of the patient is the goal…
Your observation and point is well taken. When I received the postcard proof from the designer, I too thought the girl in the photo was a bit too thin to be worried about the scale; but, we didn’t have a lot of choices. Unfortunately, there weren’t any heavy models in stock photos to choose from. The intended message is that if you’d like some help with loosing weight, then a lipo shot may help – not to promote starvation diets. In fact, we have a “fat to energy” program that strongly promotes healthy eating and warns against starving one’s self. That program appears on side two of our printed Lipo Shot handout.
Anorexia is indeed a problem in America as is obesity. If a “skinny” person takes a lipo shot, it’s not going to make them loose more weight on it’s own if they’re not already dieting. It may actually make them feel better as they’re in a malnourished state. The vitamin B12 and other ingredients, in a Lipo Shot, could be helpful. However, we haven’t seen a rash of skinny people come in for the shots. Rather, it’s been people who truly need to loose many pounds or those looking for more energy. If I spotted this being a problem, I would certainly act.
We’re trying to promote health, wellness & prevention. Unfortunately, that doesn’t “sell” very well to the public unless they understand the benefits. Doctors don’t have to deal with that problem because when people are sick they NEED a doctor. What we do, prevention, isn’t perceived as a need – unfortunately. It’s our job to “sell” the public on prevention and wellness.
I’ve previously operated a wellness service that went bankrupt and quickly learned what one must do to get through to the public. You only have millli-seconds to get your message across before it gets tossed in the trash. I’m still learning and perfecting how to accomplish this objective while striking a responsible balance. I may not always do a perfect job but am continually learning and evolving.
Our vitamin B12 and Lipo shots have help thousands of people; a fact for which I’m very proud.
Any feedback is always welcome and considered.
At your service,
Kimberly
Kimberly Cole Gray, RN, BSN
Owner, TSN
kimberly@shotnurse.com
(901)685-9999 fax (901)767-8388
http://www.shotnurse.com
Thank you so much for your comment.
Would you believe my Primary Care Physician is offering these shots, along with BOTOX????? GRRRRRR.