Weight Watchers official apologizes for column on fat firefighters

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Yesterday (Tuesday) I shared the link above on the STATter911.com Facebook page. It’s the Sooner or Lighter page of the Bangor Daily News, a column/advertisement written by Jackie Conn the general manager of Weight Watchers in Maine. The headline with the image of FDNY’s Ladder 3 read “Why Are So Many Firefighters So Fat?”

In the column, Ms. Conn offered firefighters a discount for Weight Watchers and even defended firefighters by explaining how the nature of the job can help make firefighters obese. But it was how she started the article that resulted in the column being pulled and two apologies issued.

While I don’t think Jackie Conn was intending to be disrespectful or trying to hurt anyone, the opening of her column did just that for some:

Maine firefighter, Michael Kucsma, a Lieutenant for the Portland Fire Department and part-time Deputy Chief in the Gorham Fire Rescue Department was off-duty when he died of a heart attack hours after responding to a serious accident. Under federal law, his death is considered a death in the line of duty even though he died while … 

Conn went on to talk about the many fat stomachs she saw in the news coverage of the funeral. In addition, as you can see by the image at the top of this post, the article initially made an error about the department where Michael Kucsma was a firefighter (according to his friends, the corrected version immediately above is now accurate).

Ms. Conn, wrote the following comment on the STATter911 Facebook page late last night:

Jackie McCormick Conn: I realized I made some mistakes in my opening paragraphs and I have removed them. I also feel as though my motives were misinterpreted. I did not mean to say that I don’t think firefighters are capable of performing their duties. I do know, since I am maintaining a 40 pound weight loss, that my endurance and balance are greatly improved without the extra weight. as is my agility. Losing weight could make a good firefighter even better, but I wasn’t suggesting they were unfit to perform their duties. Perhaps if I hadn’t made an offer to allow Maine firefighters to become Weight Watchers members in Maine the backlash from my blog would not be as great. I made the offer to firefighters and their families as a sincere way to help. I thought that the discount to firefighters would be nice, but if they could be further supported by having family members attend, also at a discount it would improve their support system. I’m sorry that My offer appeared self-serving and I made myself look to be moralistic and judgmental of overweight firefighters as well as opportunistic. I wasn’t promoting a company; I was offering a solution because as I wrote in my blog, firefighting is a stressful job and the stress doesn’t go away as soon as you are off-duty. It wasn’t my intent. I edited the article in an effort to remove anything disrespectful or offensive and the offer stands for Maine firefighters who are interested. To all firefighters – THANK YOU!

Here’s the apology on the Sooner or Lighter web page:

I am deeply sorry for offending anybody with my blog. I wrote it in a sincere effort to help.

I realize it wasn’t the helpful piece I wanted it to be and I unintentionally hurt many good, caring people.

I apologize for that.

Thank you for all that you do and being there for us when we need you.

With deep regrets,

Jackie Conn

We are told Ms. Conn also wrote a personal apology to Andrew Johnston after reading his comment (below) on the STATter911.com Facebook page.

Andrew Johnston: I try to make it a policy to not enter facebook debates or comment on articles, mostly due to the incessant amount of ignorant comments, some of which have been displayed on here already. I have read the article several times and feel compelled to comment. Just the title of the article “Why Are So Many Firefighters So Fat” elicits an emotional response from any firefighter. But for a writer it draws in the readers. I am a firefighter and I am a realist. There is no doubt that obesity and heart disease are certainly on the rise in the fire service. Jackie Conn even provides the factual and compelling research as to why this is. While I cannot disagree with research and the unfortunate facts of not only the fire service, but Police, EMS, and the nation as a whole. Remember she states the fire service is only “slightly” higher than the national average. I STRONGLY disagree with the foundation in which she chose to formulate her hypothesis on. First off, I will not waste my time being angry at the title, Shes a “writer” and needs to capture an audience. 2nd, You introduced the article by using Micheal Kucsma who untimely passed away June 16th 2014. First off with all of the research you were able to recite from medical and trade journals I am surprised she could not even get the right Department Mike worked for. She starts by saying “Standish firefighter.” This is false. And while Im writing this I see she has posted an addendum saying Mike was a Portland Lieutenant and Gorham Deputy, Still only partially correct. Mike was a Captain. I am no writer, but it makes your story, and an important one albeit, much more credible if you can get your opening line correct. Mike, was one of my close friends, He worked out and was on a regular exercise program and could do the job. The second paragraph citing “the line of large bellies,” well I will not let emotion carry me away on that one, she watched from her TV, I was there. judgmental and hardly objective.Also, should not insult those you perceive you are trying to help. Ms Conn, Several programs locally and nationally already exist to support the better health of firefighters, IAFF Peer Fitness,IAFC, Gym membership reimbursement etc, Yes I agree we could do better everyday and most absolutely make the effort. Your article does offer great insight into what causes increases in CAD and obesity in the fire service, however, it is far out shadowed but your disrespect. If you want to help the fire service I applaud you,but please do not use the tragic death of one of our members and in this case one of my close friends as a a marketing platform for your company, words cannot describe how disgusting and disrespectful it is. Thank you.