News: McDonald's and Weight Watchers in Partnership

I read an online article recently from the Guardian newspaper about an initiative by McDonald's in New Zealand to work with Weight Watchers with menu items listed as 'diet' friendly and Weight Watchers will promote McDonald's to its dieters.  A world first: this programme has been in existance for a couple of years.

Some of the quotes are astonishing (my comments are in BOLD)

"Sian Porter, a dietician at the British Dietetic Association, said: "This sort of initiative should be applauded, but the danger is that someone will go in, choose one of the healthier options and then think: 'Ooh good. Now I'll have an ice cream', which is not the right message.""

- How about this sort of initiative being met with disdain and contempt?

"Chris Stirk, Weight Watchers' director of business in Australia and New Zealand, said the partnership between the companies reflected "part of our philosophy that you can enjoy life … while still achieving your weight loss goals"."

- Enjoy life by only focussing on weight-loss rather than health.  High (poor quality) fats, high sugar, high salt and poor nutritional content are fine as long as the calorie count is met.

"For the past year in the UK, the chain has run a programme linking children's football teams with their local McDonald's restaurant and offering them free kit and equipment."

- Although there are no plans for a similar partnership in the UK, the above programme disappoints me even more.  I wonder how many of these children are rewarded with McDonald's after playing a football game?