In a recent episode of It’s Showtime!, viewers were left in fits of laughter due to a funny exchange between the show’s hosts, Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, and Kim Chiu. The trio was talking about which fried chicken is better while subtly hinting at the fast-food chains they’re endorsing respectively. 

ICYMI, Vice recently became the face of McDonald’s much juicier fried chicken, Anne swears by the crispylicious Chickenjoy at Jollibee, and Kim was tapped by Chowking for its Chinese-style fried chicken.

Celebrity and influencer responsibility

The clip immediately went viral online and caught the attention of medical doctor RJ Naguit. 

“Aliw ang banter, pero what does this mean for public health?” His X (formerly Twitter) post read. 

Naguit pointed out the fast food industry seems to be adopting similar strategies of large alcohol companies, tapping celebrity A-listers to drive up profits. 

“What role should influencers/celebs play in pushing for better health outcomes?” He added.

Who’s to blame for eating habits?

Although some understood Naguit’s sentiments, many felt he was overreacting. 

“Hindi naman accessible ang food sa lahat ng Pilipino to begin with, ayun siguro ang dapat maging concern, sir,” one X user commented.

Naguit replied, saying he’s all for making healthier food choices more accessible. 

“Ang point na irenraise ay ang role ng marketing ng mga fast food companies and how they influence eating behavior. Pwede namang complementary ‘yung points na ‘yun di’ba?” Naguit said.

Still, people felt he was barking up the wrong tree. They say marketing is all about selling products, and it’s influenced by a whole bunch of factors that sway consumer behavior.

Moreover, they argued that public health and making healthier meal options available for everyone are among the responsibilities of government officials — not celebrities and influencers. 

Eating healthy in today’s economy

Let’s face it — not everyone has the means to lead a healthier lifestyle. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein products can be expensive, and in today’s economy, many Filipinos are simply trying their best to eat three meals a day. (If anything, many Pinoys see eating at fast-food chains as a modern-day luxury.) Let’s also not forget those who are probably perpetually exhausted to even think of a meal plan at home. 

Although cutting back your fast-food runs is just one facet of living healthily, there are other low-cost options available, like drinking lots of water, getting at least eight hours of sleep, and doing home exercises. 

At this point, it boils down to what you make of the available resources in front of you.

What are your thoughts on this? Comment them below!