No longer Dr McKeith - another small victory

[brettDbass]

http://www.24dash.com/health/16424.htm

TV nutritionist Gillian McKeith has agreed to drop the title Dr from her company's advertising following a complaint to the industry watchdog, it was confirmed today.

I wonder what her motives really are in doing this.

 

[Nero]

http://www.24dash.com/health/16424.htm



I wonder what her motives really are in doing this.

You beat me to it, I was just about to post.

In the UK “Dr” Gillian McKeith has been peddling her wares as a Nutritionist via numerous books, herbal products, and a Channel 4 television show (You are What You Eat). She makes numerous ridiculous nutritional claims that even a basic GCSE student would find laughable. Anyway, for the good news.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2011151,00.html

“Gillian McKeith, the You Are What You Eat presenter, has agreed to drop the title Dr from her company's advertising after a complaint to the industry watchdog. She has made millions from book and health food spin-offs, but her credentials have been questioned by some experts.”

And another longish article by Dr Ben Goldacre, again in today’s Guardian, lambasting the old witch for being a menace to science.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2011095,00.html

Most, if not all of the credit for this has to go to Ben Goldacre, his web blog (www.badscience.net) and the contributors to his forum.

Well done one and all.

 

[Timble]

Her motive are probably due to articles like these in the Guardian, that indicated that her "PhD" is of debatable value:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2011095,00.html


For those who aren't aware of it Ben Goldacre's Bad Science column in the Grauniad and his site are excellent resources for those battling voodoo science.

http://www.badscience.net/

 

[tmackean]

Ben Goldacre's article, previously posted:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2011095,00.html

...is outstanding. It's systematic and thorough. This guy is a credit to The Guardian, and to the credibility of skepticism.

To those who may have skipped it due to length, it's worth a read.

 

[Jaggy Bunnet]

http://www.24dash.com/health/16424.htm



I wonder what her motives really are in doing this.

According to the Times coverage:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1370214.ece

"In a move that will prevent the publication of the ASA adjudication, McKeith Research has “voluntarily” accepted not to call her “doctor” any more."

Sounds like she REALLY didn't want the ASA adjudication to be published. Might be an interesting route to go after others who make similarly misleading claims in their advertising.

 

[brettDbass]

According to the Times coverage:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1370214.ece

"In a move that will prevent the publication of the ASA adjudication, McKeith Research has “voluntarily” accepted not to call her “doctor” any more."

Sounds like she REALLY didn't want the ASA adjudication to be published. Might be an interesting route to go after others who make similarly misleading claims in their advertising.

Now that is interesting.
A case of prevention is better than truth?

 

[Dave_46]

Ben Goldacre was on You and Yours on Radio 4 today. He was followed by Max Clifford trying to rubbish him, implying that he was only complaining because she made more money than him.

Dave

 

[cj.23]

I hope his well qualified deceased cat was there as well! Absolutely wonderful, thanks for the news!



cj x

 

[Lothian]

Edited :I was beaten to it by CJ because I spent 6 mins finding out that Ben Goldacre’s late cat was called Henrietta.

 

[Mojo]

Maybe no longer "Dr" in advertisements, but she's still "Dr Gillian" or "Dr Gillian McKeith" 27 times on her homepage (not including the 5 book cover images on which "Dr" is visible). That's up from 20 when I last counted them back in November last year. The ASA doesn't deal with claims made on a company's own website.

 

[Mr Clingford]

Yes, this is something to celebrate.

 

[Diamond]

I always objected to the "You are what you eat" programme on the grounds that it encouraged me to eat more vegetables...well Gillian you might be but I'm all meat.

 

[Jaggy Bunnet]

I always objected to the "You are what you eat" programme on the grounds that it encouraged me to eat more vegetables...well Gillian you might be but I'm all meat.

Dara O'Briain does/did a bit on her in his comedy show and part of it is on his recent DVD.

Why are so many comedians sceptics?

 

[Ocelot]

If we are to accept pretend Doctor Gillian McKeith's suggestion that "you are what you eat" we should presume that her favourite meal is some sort of sour scottish tart. The recipe for which requires disguising the lack of any worthwhile content with an over abundance of puff.

 

[JQH]

If her diets are so good, how come she looks older than my mum, despite being younger than me?

 

[Darat]

If her diets are so good, how come she looks older than my mum, despite being younger than me?

And so bloody miserable!

I blame her parents - I was taught not to play with my poo when I was quite young.

 

[comburentblossom]

Originally posted by JQH:

"If her diets are so good, how come she looks older than my mum, despite being younger than me?"

It's having to fight off all that nasty press and unfair criticism.... ...ahh diddums

 

[brettDbass]

Originally posted by JQH:

"If her diets are so good, how come she looks older than my mum, despite being younger than me?"

It's having to fight off all that nasty press and unfair criticism.... ...ahh diddums

Heh, welcome to the forum.

Have a healthy wholegrain pancake.

 

[brodski]

And so bloody miserable!

I blame her parents - I was taught not to play with my poo when I was quite young.

Come, now, let's be totally accurate here, it's not her poo which she is playing with. Not that that makes it any better.

 

[Kimpatsu]

Come, now, let's be totally accurate here, it's not her poo which she is playing with. Not that that makes it any better.

IOW, whatever she says, it's crap...