Wendy
27-02-2012, 09:55 AM
Walt Disney World’s Epcot recently opened a new exhibit in Innoventions, a showcase of various exhibits designed to promote new ideas and technologies. The new exhibit, “Habit Heroes,” was a joint effort by Disney and Blue Cross and Blue Shield to combat childhood obesity through interactive games.
Last week, the mini-attraction came under intense pressure for the way it portrayed obesity, overweight people (in particular, children), and the concept of “fat-shaming.” In particular health care professionals in Canada began to speak out after seeing the attraction, causing the uproar to spread across the Internet quickly.
Dr Yoni Freedhoff, an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Ottawa said “It’s so dumbfounding it’s unreal, I just can’t believe somebody out there thought it was a good idea to pick up where the school bullies left off and shame kids on their vacation.”
“Rebecca Scritchfield, an adjunct professor at George Washington University, said she was “disgusted” by the exhibit’s implication that weight is indicative of health, writing: “I would love to know what sickos thought this up.”
Disney have now has closed the attraction until further notice and also shut down the Disney's Habit Heroes website indefinitely for maintenance. "Sorry, Habit Heroes is down for maintenance."
Last week, the mini-attraction came under intense pressure for the way it portrayed obesity, overweight people (in particular, children), and the concept of “fat-shaming.” In particular health care professionals in Canada began to speak out after seeing the attraction, causing the uproar to spread across the Internet quickly.
Dr Yoni Freedhoff, an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Ottawa said “It’s so dumbfounding it’s unreal, I just can’t believe somebody out there thought it was a good idea to pick up where the school bullies left off and shame kids on their vacation.”
“Rebecca Scritchfield, an adjunct professor at George Washington University, said she was “disgusted” by the exhibit’s implication that weight is indicative of health, writing: “I would love to know what sickos thought this up.”
Disney have now has closed the attraction until further notice and also shut down the Disney's Habit Heroes website indefinitely for maintenance. "Sorry, Habit Heroes is down for maintenance."