Clubindustry

Club operators beware—your last ad campaign could’ve promoted binge eating instead of working out! A new University of Illinois study finds that campaigns designed to promote exercise actually may prompt people to eat more — can you say reverse psychology?

Study participants who viewed posters urging them to “join a gym” or “take a walk” ate about one-third more than people who viewed signs urging them to “make friends” or “be in a group.”

Researchers also showed some study participants subliminal words about being active. That group ate 20 percent more than people who were exposed to more neutral subliminal words.

Dolores Albarracin, psychology professor and lead researcher, notes that public health officials often design an ad campaign with a single outcome in mind, without realizing that multiple behaviors may be affected.

She attributes the increased eating to compensatory behavior and “metabolic mechanisms triggered by physical activity.”

In some fitness circles, Nintendo is being chastised for promoting its Wii Fit product as a source of exercise rather than as a source of entertainment. A class action lawsuit is being compiled by people who claim to have been injured while using the Wii.

Michael Torchia, a fitness trainer, radio personality and founder of Operation Fitness, has joined in the class action lawsuit. He has stated that he’d like for Nintendo to stop selling its Wii games until certain changes are made to the product and the promotions. The company’s representation of Wii Fit as a replacement for exercise and playing sports is dangerous and could lead to fewer people actually exercising as needed, he says, so he wants Nintendo to change its promotions to state that these games are for entertainment, not exercise. He’s also stated that use of the products can lead to unneccessary injuries.

What do you think about about Torchia’s concerns about the Wii Fit becoming a substitute for real exercise for people?