The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) announced last month a new program called Corporate Alliance, in which the AAFP partners with interested companies to produce educational material for the general public. The first of these companies to sign on is Coca-Cola, who has donated $500,000 to the AAFP which will be used to develop consumer education content related to beverages and sweeteners. Not surprisingly, many physician-members of the AAFP have voiced strong opposition to such an alliance, especially in light of the current obesity epidemic. AAFP President-elect, Lori Heim, M.D., states the partnerships will not include an AAFP endorsement of any brand, product or service, and the Academy will maintain editorial control of all materials related to the partnerships. However, this partnership of irony calls into question the integrity of AAFP leadership, who’s efforts should be devoted to primary care and prevention, not sleeping with the enemy. [via AAFP]
Share your comments here.
Tags: AAFP, American Academy of Family Medicine, Coca-Cola, family medicine, obesity, Public Health
Follow us on Twitter
Become a fan on Facebook
Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Coca Cola is responsible for a major part of obesity we now find our citizens engaged in. Coca Cola is also addictive. When we were children, we used to take a few drops of Coca Cola and put it on the paint of an automobile. The Coca Cola burnt off the paint. So, we are discussing, a carcinogen. It was commonly used on car batteries to remove the corrosion from the battery terminals. It was used commonly and effectively in this regard. The above examples used straight Coca Cola from the bottle. Coca Cola has caffeine in it making it addicting as well as poisoning our population. They do have a great deal of money, I think that there is no debate in this area. Is the AAFP prostituting themselves for the sake of $500,000.00? Sadly, money talks at the expense of the health of human lives. Sadly, we are seeing the tip of the iceberg. These practices have continued, and apparently are spreading to other organizations that exist to protect us. The future for good conscience looks bleak.
December 18th, 2009 at 7:04 am
Before condemning the action, we need to have a peek into the type of content they will be developing. Are they going to tell us about the good and the bad of sweetners and beverages or are they promoting the product–coca cola? I am sure that is not the intention. It is very easy to express negative opinions about things on the basis of such meager information that is displayed here. So we need to wait for more information before we say anything.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
I agree with vanitha! half a million dollars is not pocket change and will definitely help getting these informative materials out. why do we tend to be so negative? and we wonder why depression is such a problem in our society.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
You have to be kidding. If you believe Coca Cola does not expect a positive recommendation for its products from the AAFP for its $500,000.00 donation I have a bridge in Brooklyn you may want to buy. (CHEAP) real cheap.
December 19th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Our generation has been addicted to these soft drinks loaded with sugar or diet products loaded with nutrasweet, aspartame, and is harmful to our bodies. For them to be involved in this, is a travesty against us–it insults our intelligence. They are definitely a huge part of the problem, not just obesidity but in general health, with habit forming practices that are hard to break. And the parents give in and give it because we drank it too. The fast-food epidemic is actually KILLING US! And this is a part of it all.
December 20th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
WELL ASK THE ORANGE JUICE COMPANIES TO COUGH UP 500,000 TO PROMOTE HEALTHY HABITS–OR HOW ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF BOTTLED WATER COMPANIES(GOOD LUCK)
January 12th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
thanks for the knowledge that pass in my email but can i some question its all about liver cancer is it can treat or not.hope you that you will answer my question.thanks again…………………………………kimijoy