(I write a blog called Skipping Dessert about my experiences in seeking a healthier lifestyle and losing weight. The following was originally published there. Please take a look if you're so-inclined.)
I've known for a long time that HCA (Hospital Corporation of America) was one of the bad guys. As a refresher, it was heavily linked to Bill Frist and his family. I hadn't given HCA much thought until this past weekend I had lunch in a pub that used to be a favorite of mine many years ago.
While we were there the local top-40 hits radio station was playing, loudly. I never, ever listen to top-40 radio, so it was a bit of an education. One of the things I learned was that I’m not missing anything by never, ever listening to top-40 radio (I listen to a lot of music, just on iTunes and satellite radio). Frankly that wasn’t a surprise.
What did surprise me was that fully half the ads I heard were for diet clinics and weight-loss gimmicks. Now remember, this is an all-hits station. It’s target listeners are 12-24 years of age. And the ads they listen to (when they listen to the radio – young people, as a group, don’t, but that’s another story) are about quick and easy ways to lose weight. With a consistent “it’s not your fault” message. Wow. Nothing about healthy eating or exercise, just, “come give us money and you won’t have to worry about that unsightly muffin-top anymore.”
(HCA badness beyond the fold ...)
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