Union Health Ministry accused of Fat Shaming, Promotion of Vegeterianism on Twitter
New Delhi: An attempt to promote a healthy lifestyle has fallen flat for the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHFW) after it got accused of 'fat-shaming' and sponsoring 'vegetarianism'.
The incident took place two days ago, when the ministry tweeted, "Good nutrition is one of the keys to a #healthy life. Choose wisely, live well", the ministry portrayed a fat woman and a lean one and asked, "What's your choice?" along with the following photograph
While the photograph may have been depicted to warn about the ill effects of junk food, it had a complete reverse effect on the publicIANS reports that the fat woman depicted food items such as sausage, poultry, meat, burger, doughnuts, fries, cola and alcohol, whereas the lean woman was correlated with fruits and green vegetables.
The Twitterati immediately slammed the tweet, some called it "stupidity at its highest" while others accused the organization of "fat shaming".
As per IANS report, another user said: "This is fat shaming. Now that you've posted it, hope your women Ministers take the lead and set an example!"
Following the outrage on Twitter, the MoHFW embarrassingly removed the tweet.
"This tweet that was being promoted by our official Twitter handle seemed to suggest that the government is fixated on propagating vegetarianism as a way of life. We realise that it was a mistake," a Ministry functionary told the New Indian Express.
The incident took place two days ago, when the ministry tweeted, "Good nutrition is one of the keys to a #healthy life. Choose wisely, live well", the ministry portrayed a fat woman and a lean one and asked, "What's your choice?" along with the following photograph
While the photograph may have been depicted to warn about the ill effects of junk food, it had a complete reverse effect on the publicIANS reports that the fat woman depicted food items such as sausage, poultry, meat, burger, doughnuts, fries, cola and alcohol, whereas the lean woman was correlated with fruits and green vegetables.
The Twitterati immediately slammed the tweet, some called it "stupidity at its highest" while others accused the organization of "fat shaming".
As per IANS report, another user said: "This is fat shaming. Now that you've posted it, hope your women Ministers take the lead and set an example!"
Following the outrage on Twitter, the MoHFW embarrassingly removed the tweet.
"This tweet that was being promoted by our official Twitter handle seemed to suggest that the government is fixated on propagating vegetarianism as a way of life. We realise that it was a mistake," a Ministry functionary told the New Indian Express.
Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.