Don’t Diss Dunkin’ Donuts!
‘Cause it could cost you your job.
PANAMA CITY — Bay County’s Health Department director, who courted controversy with a proposal to ban Gatorade from schools and equated Kentucky Fried Chicken and Dunkin Donuts to obesity and death, resigned Friday.
…Bay County Commissioner Mike Thomas asked for Dr. Newsom’s resignation in a letter released Thursday saying the “vitriolic messages on the billboard outside the health department,” some of which have mentioned specific local businesses such as the soon-to-open Dunkin’ Donuts, could expose the county to a lawsuit.
It’s a sad story, since Dr. Newsom sounds like a dedicated public servant… he’s someone who clearly lives according to his values and sets a high bar for his own performance. Unfortunately, it’s a case of childish behavior all around: from the thin-skinned local business owners who complained; to the panicky commissioners who demanded the resignation of a valuable asset… to Dr. Newsom himself, whose intemperate choice of words was a) virtually guaranteed to step on some toes; and b) unlikely to yield benefits commensurate with the hassle.
Sorry, but sometimes being right – in principle – isn’t enough. Ultimately, the job of a leader is to be effective – and putting scare messages on an electronic billboard doesn’t quite cut it. If I were an average American (who watches 151 hours of TV per month), it would take more than a marquee blinking “television = obese child” for me to change my ways… especially if my kids looked average to me.
Likewise, I doubt seeing the legend “America Dies on Dunkin” would make anyone swear off doughnuts – Dunkin’ or otherwise. Demonizing individual foods isn’t a useful strategy – there are too many intellectual “loopholes” available. While a message like “French Fries = Thunder Thighs” may be catchy, it’s going to be lost on a lot of folks… after all, not everyone who eats fast food is fat; nor is every fat person a fast food addict. Similarly, it’s a real stretch to blame someone’s CVD or diabetes on his/her once or twice-per-week office doughnut habit.
I understand the man’s frustration with doughnuts, though. As he noted in one interview, he picked on them because they’re ubiquitous… you can’t go to any a.m. social gathering (i.e., meetings, church) without encountering boxes or trays of them. Earlier this week, for example, my husband was laughing about being regarded as a “health nut” by his co-workers. The reason? He (politely) turns down the doughnuts that are regularly passed around the office. The irony is priceless: he often gets high fives for his weight loss, yet gets razzed for his eating habits – as if there was no connection between the two.
And therein lies the real problem: the attitudes and behaviors that turn doughnuts – and similar “foods” – into acceptable dietary staples, vs. occasional indulgences. Needless to state, electronic nagging isn’t a solution.
At any rate, I’m glad Dr. Newsom has found a new job. His heart’s in the right place, even if tact isn’t his strong suit.
August 15, 2009
It looks to me like the man is trying to do his job. A health director should be looking out for the health and well-being of the people. I believe it would be hard to find a study anywhere that shows that doughnuts or french fries are good for you.
He just used bad judgement in the way he tried to show his point. Making local business mad is a good way to loose your job.
I applaud your husband on turning down the doughnuts. Very few people would.
Your right in saying that a flashing sign won’t make a difference to most people. They will always choose what they want, not necessarily what is best.
The obesity will continue.