Coca-Cola weighs in on obesity fight

The world's most valuable brand took the last seat at a crowded table Monday, when it launched an ad campaign aimed at "reinforcing its efforts to work together with American communities, business and government leaders to find meaningful solutions to the complex challenge of obesity." The first commercial of the campaign, a two-minute video called "Coming Together," begins with a voice-over: "For over 125 years, we've been bringing people together. Today, we'd like people to come together on something that concerns all of us: obesity." The spots are scheduled to run on television, including CNN, beginning this week. Global report: Obesity bigger health crisis than hunger The CSPI came out swinging in October, introducing "The Real Bears," -- "an animated short film that encourages Americans to pour out their sodas." It stars "The Real Bears," which resemble the iconic Coca-Cola polar bears. The video was directed by Alex Bogusky, the man behind the anti-tobacco "Truth" campaign, and features an original song, "Sugar," by Grammy award-winning artist Jason Mraz. In response, Coca-Cola issued a statement that read: "This is irresponsible and the usual grandstanding from CSPI. It won't help anyone understand energy balance, which is key according to recognized experts who've studied this issue -- a group that doesn't include CSPI. Enough said." In its new campaign, Coca-Cola drives home the sentiment that "beating obesity will take action by all of us, based on one simple, common-sense fact: All calories count, no matter where they come from. ... And if you eat and drink more calories than you burn off, you'll gain weight."

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