According to this article in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, a man has been installed in a glass apartment in the middle of the Mall of America to promote healthy living through Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s “Do” campaign.
According to the blurb the man will eat healthy, exercise, and hang out in the apartment which is outfitted with a full living room, including a TV. MPR’s Bob Collins noted on Twitter, “BC/BS is promoting getting out and “doing” (exercising) by having a guy sit in a small house at the mall of america for a month?”
While the man will be exercising in his MoA glass castle, you have to wonder if Bob Collins isn’t spot on with this publicity stunt. Are the people wandering around the Mall of America getting more of a workout carrying bags and walking from store to store than “Scott” is in the MoA apartment? While there are plenty of unhealthy options for eating at The Mall, couldn’t they find the same healthy eating the actor in the box is? Will people really follow the blog or his Twitter and Facebook feeds while he does his thing to help them with their own lifestyle improvements?
When you go to the Mall of America do you seek out healthy eating options? Would the Blue Cross/Blue Shield “Do” campaign stunt make you think twice about leading a healthier life if you saw it? Do you think this is a pointless stunt that BC/BS should have rethought? Whatever you have to say about this one go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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March 21st, 2011 at 7:37 am
Interesting idea to get your ideas out there, but yeah, sticking the guy in the equivalent as a glass tank for a gerbil isn’t doing much in my book.
I try and avoid MOA for the most part all together, because, well.. I really don’t like mass crowds of lemmings waiting in line for unhealthy food, and parents dragging their kids around on a leash..
Good publicity stunt, but I would have added him running laps around the mall each morning fleeing the kisok vendors, or some aerobic workout dodging sniper bullets in what used to be an awesome Camp Snoopy.
/.02
March 21st, 2011 at 7:43 am
By Minnesota law, BCBS has to be a non-profit. So they have to spend a certain percentage of their profit on these kinds of education efforts. I think this one is getting a lot of attention, and so it’s probably as good as any of their education efforts.
Does it make sense? Well, this one guy will probably lose weight, as would I if I had nothing to do but live in a glass house and exercise for a month.
March 21st, 2011 at 9:00 am
It’s an interesting stunt, but it doesn’t shout “healthy living – active lifestyle” to me. It seems like it also kind of promotes the “you don’t have to ever leave your apartment” idea.
March 21st, 2011 at 6:20 pm
What about fresh air? Social interaction? Intellectual stimuli? Sunlight? I could go on.
March 21st, 2011 at 9:47 pm
I walked past him and the box on Saturday when doing some shopping at the mall. There was someone in there with him and they were looking at something on a laptop — I don’t know if she was there interviewing him, if she was a doctor or nurse, or what it was. I didn’t stick around.
I never know really what to think of wellness/fitness campaigns when they come from an organization like BCBS. Obviously, being healthy and in shape is a good thing, and everyone benefits from being more active, eating better, having a strong social network, etc. But of course it’s not just about altruism for them; it’s also a question of improving their bottom line by paying out less money in claims. It’s about their gain as much as ours.
March 21st, 2011 at 10:27 pm
But most people in the “healthcare” field wouldn’t recognize/know how to promote good health if it bit them.
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:20 am
what a joke. i guess if he walked around the mall for 12-14 hours a day and crashed in the glass house it would be more credible.
bb
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:51 pm
I find this to be a ridiculous over generalization. Both of my parents are nurses and both are in tip top shape. Every co-worker of theirs that I have ever met is in great condition.
March 22nd, 2011 at 6:54 pm
Next time I go to the mall I’m going to go get a Cinnabon and eat it outside his glass house. :D
March 23rd, 2011 at 11:18 am
Mrs. Marcos: Make sure you also do the “nanny-nanny-boo-boo dance” while munching on the Cinnabon. I think it will add just the right touch.
March 23rd, 2011 at 4:42 pm
” ‘But most people in the “health care” field wouldn’t recognize/know how to promote good health if it bit them.’
I find this to be a ridiculous over generalization. Both of my parents are nurses and both are in tip top shape. Every co-worker of theirs that I have ever met is in great condition.”
I stand by my statement. Note the keyword “promote”. Our “healthcare” system does not promote health, it promotes treatments for symptoms.
This does not mean that those who work in healthcare do not practice good health habits.
March 23rd, 2011 at 10:27 pm
I did no such thing!