Doctor fired over "Dunkin Doughnuts equals death" sign

[Free4Life11]

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Dr. Jason Newsom railed against burgers, french fries, fried chicken and sweet tea in his campaign to promote better eating in a part of the country known as the Redneck Riviera. He might still be leading the charge if he had only left the doughnuts alone.

A 38-year-old former Army doctor who served in Iraq, Newsom returned home to Panama City a few years ago to run the Bay County Health Department and launched a one-man war on obesity by posting sardonic warnings on an electronic sign outside:

"Sweet Tea (equals) Liquid Sugar."

"Hamburger (equals) Spare Tire."

"French Fries (equals) Thunder Thighs."

Full article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gzU-1eF2r0rocL3ogP0BODqadOfQD9A27F3O0

His tactics we're definitely over the top, but it obviously got people riled up. He shouldn't have mentioned any brand names and just stuck with generic foods. His message is extreme, but sometimes being extreme is the only way to get through to people! Maybe he ought to work for some viral marketing agency?

What do you think?

Can anyone think of some other sayings? This article inspired me and so far I came up with:

Sweet Teas = Diabetes
Potato Chips = Holster Hips
Soda Pop = Muffin Top

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Firing seems over the top to me.

I wonder what the rest of the story is.

A county commissioner who owns a doughnut shop and two lawyers who own a new Dunkin' Donuts on Panama City Beach turned against him, along with some of his own employees, Newsom says. After the lawyers threatened to sue, his bosses at the Florida Health Department made him remove the anti-fried dough rants and eventually forced him to resign, he says.

"I picked on doughnuts because those things are ubiquitous in this county. Everywhere I went, there were two dozen doughnuts on the back table. At church, there were always doughnuts on the back table at Sunday school. It is social expectation thing," says Newsom, a lean 6-foot, 167-pounder in a county where 39 percent of all adults were overweight in 2007 and one in four was considered obese.

Newsom was hired by the state Health Department to direct the county agency. His $140,000-a-year salary is paid jointly by the state and the county. His job primarily involves educating the public about health issues — swine flu, AIDS and the like — but he also decided to address the dangers of glazed, sprinkled and jelly-filled treats.

He angered staff members by barring doughnuts from department meetings and announcing he would throw the fat-laden sweets away if he saw them in the break room. He also banned candy bars in the vending machines, putting in peanuts instead.

In May, lawyers Bo Rivard and Michael Duncan, co-owners of a new Dunkin' Donuts, asked Newsom to take down the "America Dies on Dunkin'" message. Newsom already had run other anti-doughnut warnings, including "Doughnuts (equals) Diabetes," and "Dunkin' Donuts (equals) Death."

The businessmen had the backing of County Commissioner Mike Thomas, who owns a diner and a doughnut shop. Thomas called for Newsom's ouster, saying the doctor shouldn't have named businesses on the message board.

I have to say that it bothers me that elected officials who own a donut shop had a hand in this. Not that they asked for him to be fired, but that they used their positions to protect their interests. They weren't caring about Suzie's donut shop--I believe they abused their positions and should also be fired.


I applaud the doctor's actions within his clinic though--it's about time that a medical establishment actually walk the walk.

 

[precious pixie]

i agree, this dr should be commended! I completely agree with everything that he did and think more should follow in his suit

 

[Carly_Roach]

Sweet Teas = Diabetes
Potato Chips = Holster Hips
Soda Pop = Muffin Top

But here's the thing: not everyone who drinks sweet tea, eats potato chips or enjoys soda pop succumbs to diabetes, holster hips and muffin top. Therefore the premise of the equation, no matter how humorous you try to make it, is wrong. The physician's stance on doughnuts = death was, and is, absolutely wrong.

I suspect what this is about, what things like this are always about, is one person's zealotry impacting those around him/her. Telling your co-workers that if you see sugary sweets around you're going to throw them out is zealotry.

It's one thing to encourage people and to respond when someone asks your opinion. It's quite another when you take on the role of God and make decisions for everyone within 10 square miles of where you're standing.

 

[jodifla]

But here's the thing: not everyone who drinks sweet tea, eats potato chips or enjoys soda pop succumbs to diabetes, holster hips and muffin top. Therefore the premise of the equation, no matter how humorous you try to make it, is wrong. The physician's stance on doughnuts = death was, and is, absolutely wrong.

I suspect what this is about, what things like this are always about, is one person's zealotry impacting those around him/her. Telling your co-workers that if you see sugary sweets around you're going to throw them out is zealotry.

It's one thing to encourage people and to respond when someone asks your opinion. It's quite another when you take on the role of God and make decisions for everyone within 10 square miles of where you're standing.

Exactly. Plenty of people who've had a few Dunkin Donuts in their lives are still around to tell about it.

 

[C.Ann]

But here's the thing: not everyone who drinks sweet tea, eats potato chips or enjoys soda pop succumbs to diabetes, holster hips and muffin top. Therefore the premise of the equation, no matter how humorous you try to make it, is wrong. The physician's stance on doughnuts = death was, and is, absolutely wrong.

I suspect what this is about, what things like this are always about, is one person's zealotry impacting those around him/her. Telling your co-workers that if you see sugary sweets around you're going to throw them out is zealotry.

It's one thing to encourage people and to respond when someone asks your opinion. It's quite another when you take on the role of God and make decisions for everyone within 10 square miles of where you're standing.

I agree.. I currently weigh 89 lbs. and I'll be 60 in the fall.. All of my life I have eaten anything I wanted - in any amount that I wanted - and aside from pregnancy, I've never weighed much over 100 lbs..

A doctors job is to approach his patients on an individual basis and advise them on what would be best for their health.. It's not his job to "treat" everyone and anyone within earshot or eye shot..

He went over the top - and his "fate" was sealed by using an actual brand name.. Now he's paying the consequence for his actions..

 

[Caradana]

His job is to improve public health. Obesity is the #1 threat to public health. Not everyone who overeats is obese, but everyone who's obese is overeating. He decided to attack the cause. Were his methods extreme? Yes. Was he cutting into business at the Dunkin Donuts down the street? Probably. Did they make people feel bad or guilty about what they ate? Possibly. Did it work?
Probably
You're reading this, right?
Aren't you going to remember this guy, this story, this post the next time you walk in to Dunkin Donuts?
Effective.

 

[DawnCt1]

His job is to improve public health. Obesity is the #1 threat to public health. Not everyone who overeats is obese, but everyone who's obese is overeating. He decided to attack the cause. Were his methods extreme? Yes. Was he cutting into business at the Dunkin Donuts down the street? Probably. Did they make people feel bad or guilty about what they ate? Possibly. Did it work?
Probably
You're reading this, right?
Aren't you going to remember this guy, this story, this post the next time you walk in to Dunkin Donuts?
Effective.

Nope! I am going to remember to order my large coconut coffee, cream no sugar, give the clerk my $2.11 and drive away from the drive up window without donuts as I always do.

 

[Caradana]

Nope! I am going to remember to order my large coconut coffee, cream no sugar, give the clerk my $2.11 and drive away from the drive up window without donuts as I always do.

$2.11 ... it really is cheaper than Starbucks

 

[Carly_Roach]

Did they make people feel bad or guilty about what they ate? Possibly. Did it work?
Probably

No. It's been proven time and again that making people feel bad or guilty about what they do doesn't change the behavior; it just makes that person feel bad and/or guilty. The thin person making the remarks to the fat person justify their cruelty as somehow "helping" that other person. But unless that thin person has been in the position being morbidly obese, they have no life experience in which to offer valid advice from.

And how do you weed out those who say they've been there from those who actually have been there? Simple: most people who've ever been morbidly obese (100 lbs or more) know firsthand how those kinds of remarks hurt and have (hopefully) learned never to inflict that kind of pain upon another human being.

Those who believe these kinds of tactics work are typically those who've either never been obese or perhaps they were successful at taking off 20 or 30 pounds. They now feel that anyone can do it "because I did it. I sacrificed. I gave up what I loved and I worked hard to do it. Those fat people are just lazy and I'm going to call them on it."

It's as if they worked hard to make themselves fit in with the rest of the crowd and they've now earned some "right" to make others feel as bad as they were made to feel when they were overweight. It's payback time and they don't care who they pay back.

The cases of fat people changing their habits permanently because of cruel remarks and "tough love" are rare. Most of the time, making people feel bad about what they eat simply makes them eat more. The only visible change is that these fat people take their eating elsewhere so that the people who make them feel bad won't see them eating and ruin what is, for most of them, the only true pleasure they have left in this life experience: a delicious bit of food.

You're reading this, right?
Aren't you going to remember this guy, this story, this post the next time you walk in to Dunkin Donuts?
Effective.

I don't know if I'll remember him or not when I go to Dunkin' Donuts. I rarely go there.

What I will remember is this is yet another example of a human being trying to inflict his desire on those he is around and the people who stopped him from doing so. After all, it wasn't just the stores suing him; his co-workers testified against him as well.

He may be physically fit. He may be a handsome man. But he doesn't sound like a person most people would want to spend time with.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Nope! I am going to remember to order my large coconut coffee, cream no sugar, give the clerk my $2.11 and drive away from the drive up window without donuts as I always do.

then you already know and agree that donuts = death.


and to those disagreeing. Donut does not equal death, donutS do!


Mikeeee

 

[ChrisFL]

His job is to improve public health. Obesity is the #1 threat to public health. Not everyone who overeats is obese, but everyone who's obese is overeating. He decided to attack the cause. Were his methods extreme? Yes. Was he cutting into business at the Dunkin Donuts down the street? Probably. Did they make people feel bad or guilty about what they ate? Possibly. Did it work?
Probably
You're reading this, right?
Aren't you going to remember this guy, this story, this post the next time you walk in to Dunkin Donuts?
Effective.

But why is Dunkin' Donuts the problem? Should they suffer if some people on their own free will decide to eat too many donuts? Should ABC Liquor be criticized if people get drunk and get a DUI?

I mean that's the issue here, it's not his message, it's who he's attacking.

 

[Carly_Roach]

then you already know and agree that donuts = death.


and to those disagreeing. Donut does not equal death, donutS do!


Mikeeee

Fine. You're absolutely right - donuts = death. Here are some more facts:

Cars = death (accidents)
Airplanes = death (crashes)
Swing sets = death (accidents)
Bicycles = death (same)
Crossing a street = death (same)
Going to work = death (going postal)
Sex = death (AIDS)
Talking on a phone = death (lightning storm)
Playing in the rain = death (same)

Living = death

We are all going to die. I haven't met one person who has been able to escape death.

Most of my time is spent participating in what lies to the left of the equals sign rather than the right of it. What lies to the right of the equals sign is something that I have no control over. The left, however, is something I have complete control over. And thinking about how eating donutS(or ice cream or pizza or cake) will be the end of me doesn't even factor into it.

Death is inevitable.

However, I do get an ironic noir chuckle from time to time when hearing of the health nut who scorns everyone around him/her and winds up getting his or her 5% body fat body splattered all over the front of a bus while out jogging.

 

[Acklander]

that's true - 5 out of 5 people die, and you've got to die of something. Yes, there is an obesity problem in america, but instead of being insulting about it (which I wouldn't think would change habits). People will change when they're ready to change. Maybe he should have used that energy to set up a town wide challenge with walks, and healthy cook-off contests, and making sure the locals schools haven't cut gym class or recess, and seminars to educate people. There are so many positive ways you can help people who are ready to make the change.

 

[DawnCt1]

$2.11 ... it really is cheaper than Starbucks

And much better too. It doesn't taste "burnt" and they will top it with whipped cream for "free".

 

[DawnCt1]

then you already know and agree that donuts = death.


and to those disagreeing. Donut does not equal death, donutS do!


Mikeeee

Oh, I agree. Its a good bet that anyone who has ever eaten a donut is going to die. In fact, I will bet that anyone who has ever eaten a carrot is going to die. I think that donuts taste better.

 

[honugirl]

His approach would have been better had he taken the route of, "Have you had your carrots today?" or "Milk, does a body good" versus what he wrote. Most people who are obese understand how they got there. They aren't stupid. They make the choice to eat that food (unless they have an enabler, which is a whole different ballgame).

Not everyone got fat because they ate bad food either. I was 140 pounds of nothing but muscle and skated hockey games 11+ hours a week until a tumor on my pituitary gland changed my body for me.

There really seems to be a lot of hatred towards fat people. It's incredible. It's really one of the last sections of people where you can ridicule them, say horrible things to them, treat them like dirt and no one says a darn thing. It's really a shame. We are people too. Thin doesn't always equal healthy either. I know a lot of thin people that are very unhealthy. I even *gasp*, know several thin people with diabetes!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pigeon]

The donut shop issues aside, this guy sounds like a very bad fit for the job. I read one interview where he, himself, admitted that he has no tact. Those signs aren't going to make anybody change their eating habits. They are going to make people tune him out or think he's a nutjob.

And outlawing what employees eat is just plain wrong. If he wants to offer to bring the carrot sticks for morning break, that's fine. Otherwise, it's not his place to dictate what other adults eat.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

that's true - 5 out of 5 people die, and you've got to die of something. Yes, there is an obesity problem in america, but instead of being insulting about it (which I wouldn't think would change habits). People will change when they're ready to change. Maybe he should have used that energy to set up a town wide challenge with walks, and healthy cook-off contests, and making sure the locals schools haven't cut gym class or recess, and seminars to educate people. There are so many positive ways you can help people who are ready to make the change.

I find the bolded funny.

I do agree that it was an ineffective approach to address the problem of obesity. Becoming proactive in your community might have had a much better success rate long term.

I suppose if you had a donut shop that was being affected by his statements you would do something about it as well.

Banning sweets and donuts from meetings and vending machines would not score points with alot of people in the office, I would guess.

I imagine he had more enemies than friends with his approach.

 

[Maridw]

Boy, did it take a long time for this to get on the boards. This happened right here in my town - Panama City, FL (not Pensacola).

When Dr. Newsome started his campaign, he was doing just the "donuts equal death" and a list of others. There were a lot of people not really thrilled with this approach, but put up with it. It was when he started singling out specific companies that the County & City Commissioners decided he had gone too far. Even his bosses felt he had stepped over the line. I guess they figured that if he was going to use Dunkin Donuts, then who else would he start going after. They could have ended up with a bunch of lawsuits on their hands.

The original story was that he actually submitted his resignation, just recently he went to the newpaper and stated that he "was given the option to resign or be fired". He actually tried to apply for his old job, when it was opened up. I seriously do not think that he would be re-hired in that position.

When he became the head of the Bay County Health Department, he also told employees that they could no longer bring in donuts, homebaked goods etc. He felt that they should make a good impression for the public. But he did it in a strong arm manner. What if someone wanted to bring in homebaked goods that were healthy? They were not given that choice, all baked goods were prohibited.