Pepsi Sponsored Video Game to Target Childhood Obesity in Mexico

As if a signed GTA III from JT is not enough irony for you today, news that Pepsi is sponsoring a tamagotchi type computer game for Mexican school children to learn healthy food choices should give you a full dose of irony for the week. We are all aware that soda drinks are linked to obesity and that video games are another culprit, so with Pepsi deciding to sponsor one cause of obesity to counter act another underlying cause is just… well, ironic I guess. Designed to teach Mexican children how to make better nutritional choices, Pepsi’s Live Healthily program will have kids guiding virtual characters through choices about food and exercise.

Jorge Meyer, an exec for PepsiCo’s Mexican operation, had this to say about Pepsi’s new program: “The private sector is worried alongside the government about what we can do about this problem. We don’t want to be seen as the guilty ones. We want to be seen as part of the solution. It isn’t about whether soda is good or bad for you. Here 80% of schools don’t have drinking water so if there were no soda either what would the kids drink?”

Not even drinking fountains? I guess this means that not only are tourists discouraged from drinking the water down Mexico way, but the citizens as well. Sounds like this is a more important issue than whether or not kids are making healthy food choices. Actually, I do not know if that is really the case or not, the school systems not being able to afford drinking fountains is most likely the case instead of polluted water. But, providing drinking water to children in school should be a priority, however, bottled water would be a better choice if fountains are too expensive, and considering that Mexicans consume more soft drinks than any group other than Americans – bottled water should be the only option in schools.

Maybe in the long run this new game from Pepsi along with more education regarding a healthy lifestyle in the schools will make children think about their choices – however, elementary school aged kids are more concerned with playing, eating candy and watching TV than their health. They need to target the parents and children who are older and more conscientious of their appearance to make this sort of program more effective.

Via: The Guardian