9745: When Stock Photo Models Attack.

From The New York Times…

Model in Anti-Obesity Ad Criticizes the Campaign

By Patrick McGeehan

Another of the overweight models appearing in ads from New York City’s health department — one who did not have a limb edited off — criticized the campaign, saying that the ads will not have the desired effect.

After reading about the virtual amputation of the leg of another model, Beth Anne Sacks said she felt misled when she saw herself in one of the ads in a subway car. Not only did she not like being one of the “poster people for obesity,” but she also said the message was too negative to inspire overweight people to change their eating habits.

“This is so negative,” Ms. Sacks said in an interview. “If they think they’re going to reach overweight people with these ads, they’re not going to do it. I don’t think they would make someone go, ‘You’re right, I need to change.’”

Ms. Sacks, a 43-year-old actress and singer (see video below) who lives in Manhattan, said the health department was trying to frighten people into changing their habits, but “the ad of me doesn’t scare me.” She is shown climbing the stairs of a subway station, with containers of French fries arrayed in front of her, to warn of the dangers of growing portions of fast food and sugary drinks.

“I look at it and think ‘Oh, it’s just a big girl walking up the subway stairs,’” she said referring to one of three ads the health department is placing in the transit system. “None of those scare me,” she said, not even the one of Cleo Berry, an able-bodied actor whose right leg was made to appear partly amputated to represent the devastating effects of diabetes.

John Kelly, a spokesman for the health department, said, “Our smoking cessation ads have helped drive smoking in New York City down to historic lows, and our other public health campaigns have been essential to the progress we’ve made helping New Yorkers live longer and healthier lives.”

Unlike Mr. Berry, whose image was captured by a stock photo agency several years ago, Ms. Sacks knew she was posing for a city-sponsored campaign. She said that she answered an ad on Craigslist in mid-December that was placed by the health department’s ad agency. It was seeking an “overweight actress” for a photo shoot within the next two days and offering $250, she said.

The next day, she was taken to a subway station downtown and photographed climbing the steps — not her favorite activity. “I’ve never been a stair person,” she said.

She said she was pleasantly surprised when she was paid $300 at the end of the day because it helped pay her rent. But now, she said, she has some regrets. “The 300 has come and gone, and now I’m all over the subway system,” she said.