If the phrase "Eat More chickpeas" sounds familiar, that's exactly what the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine was hoping for. The play on the Chick-fil-A slogan "Eat More Chicken" is part of an ad campaign they're running in cities across the country against fast-food franchises setting up shop in hospitals.
"We're not trying to attack anyone. Our goal is to promote good health for patients. One of the ways you can do that is by eating a more healthful diet," said Stephen Neabore, MD, a physician with the Committee who practices internal medicine in Washington D.C.
The Committee, a nonprofit made up of 12,000 physicians, has placed most of the ads within a mile or two of all hospitals that host Chick-fil-A franchises. They include billboards above major roadways leading to hospitals as well as signage in nearby bus shelters to catch the attention of staff taking public transportation. In some cities, ads were placed in entire fleets of city buses, like in Charleston, South Carolina, where all 66 coaches flew the "Eat More Chickpeas" branding.
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While they aren't meant to be hostile, PCRM does want their anti-fast-food message to have bite. Neabore says the high calorie, high-cholesterol items common on fast-food menus like Chick-fil-A contribute to disease and serious long-term health complications like heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. He believes hospitals have the opportunity for teachable moments when it comes to nutrition for patients and staff that can have a ripple effect in the community.
"We want the hospitals to set an example for people and say, 'you're coming here and this is the food that we're giving you because it's been shown to be the healthiest food you can eat.' So then when people leave the hospital and go home they're like 'oh I ate great in the hospital. I felt so much better. Let me try and eat that same way at home,'" Neabore said.
"Many of the hospitals that host Chick-fil-A are in states with high rates of diet-related diseases, making hospitals part of the overall toxic food environment," said Angie Eakin, MD, one of the doctors who appears in the advertisements. "Hospitals should be fast-food-free, and patients should eat more chickpeas, vegetables, fruits, and other foods that can promote healing and prevent disease."
Healthy choices
Greenville Memorial Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina is home to a Chick-fil-A franchise, and PCRM placed their ads in a bus shelter right across the street. While the hospital offered no comment on the ads themselves or whether they consider Chick-fil-A food to be healthy, Chief Medical Officer Angelo Sinopoli, MD, elaborated on the system's commitment to health and wellness, listing some steps Greenville Health has taken to that end.
He said they offer "ChooseWell meals" that contain no more than 500 calories or 15 grams of fat in their cafeterias, and have made healthy food options more visible and less expensive. Last year, Sinopoli said they removed sugary drinks like sweet tea and full-calorie soda from their cafeterias and vending machines, and this year bid farewell to deep fryers, removing them from cafeterias in lieu of "combi ovens" that mimic the taste and texture of fried foods but with fewer fat and calories.
Hospitals face ad blitz over Chick-fil-A, other fast food in cafeterias | Healthcare Finance News