Can An Advertisement Trigger An Eating Disorder?

Many people often undergo an internal dilemma when looking in the fridge and see a delicious dessert that makes your mouth water, right?  As in the case in the Yoplait commercial, a thin woman tries to rationalize having a piece of raspberry cheesecake thinking, “What if I just had a small slice?  I was good today. I deserve it.  Or, I could have a medium slice and some celery sticks.  And they would cancel each other out, right?  Or ... OK, I could have one large slice ...
And jog in place as I eat it.”  After this thought, another woman steps in and grabs a Yoplait Light cheesecake-flavored yogurt from the fridge that she has “been thinking about all day.”  "Oh, you've... lost weight," the first woman notices. Then, looking ashamed and guilty, she grabs a yogurt instead too.

The only problem I personally see wrong with this commercial is the overselling of Yoplait Light yogurt, with a message that dessert can be replaced with yogurt that tastes just as good.  Also, I think it is very doubtful that the woman had been thinking about the yogurt “all day.”  However, according to the National Eating Disorders Association, the issue with this advertisement is much larger; they linked this advertisement to people who struggle with bulimia and anorexia.  General Mills suddenly pulled this ad from the air because of its controversial message of promoting eating disorders last week.  The National Eating Disorders Association claimed that this commercial demonstrated denial and guilt of consuming certain foods, which is a characteristic of eating disorders.  They claim that this advertisement tells people with eating disorders that society wants them to be thinner, and that it is ok and normal to mentally try to jump hoops to justify eating desserts. 

I was very surprised and shocked to hear that there were many complaints that this commercial promoted eating disorders.  I have never linked eating disorders with this commercial any time I have watched it, and still do not even after hearing that it has been pulled from the air.  I think that this commercial was just trying to hint that the yogurt tastes as good as the cheesecake and is the right choice because it is not nearly as bad for you as the dessert.  The woman, just like many others in today’s world, is concerned about what she is eating. 

Even though I do not agree with the National Eating Disorders Association with regards to this advertisement, I am highly impressed with the quick actions General Mills has taken to address their concerns.  General Mills did not intend to harm those with eating disorders and believe it was the right thing to pull the ad based on the many complaints of the correlation of the two.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/does-this-commercial-encourage-eating-disorders-video-2497971