So, Now We'll Blame Barbie for Childhood Obesity? Really?

   Okay, part of my journey towards turning forty has a lot to do with accepting myself as I am while striving to be the healthiest person I can.  This is not only for myself, but also to set a good example for my family as well.  Guess what?  As a normal human being, I fall short.  I challenge anyone out there to tell me that at some point or other in some way, shape, or form they don't.  The key is picking yourself back up again and continuing to try.  At least that's the lesson I hope my son gleans from me.

  So, when I stumbled upon the debate over whether toy manufacturers should begin making plus sized Barbie dolls I was intrigued.  After all people, women in particular in this case, come in all shapes and sizes right?  Of course we do.  This past year I actually wrote a series about just that entitled the Chubby Girl's Guide.  It pointed out that just as with books, you cannot judge a person by his or her cover.  Complete with expert physician and health professional testimony I proved that just because someone appears to be healthy because they have a thin appearance doesn't mean that they are.  More importantly in this instance, just because someone carries extra weight does not mean they are unfit.  

  Knowing this my blood began to boil as I read comment after comment and blog after blog saying that plus sized Barbie was unacceptable.  Equating the production of a doll with this body type, to encouraging children to be obese.  Basically saying that having an overweight doll on the market tells kids to down fast food and sugar as quickly as they can for as long as they'd like.  Seriously? Am I the only one that sees this mentality to be more harmful than whatever twisted misconception these people are trying to preach?

   Why aren't we asking toy companies to not only make a plus sized Barbie (who incidentally if you haven't noticed I think is great), but to also make dolls that are more representative of who Americans are as a whole?  Isn't such a black and white take on people's appearances like the fictional body type of original Barbie versus the thick body type of plus sized, the kind of thinking that creates harmful stereotypes and discrimination in the first place?  I thought that our goals as responsible adults and parents were to teach acceptance, tolerance and respect for the many, many grey areas that come as simple results of being human.  

   As for the health and well being of our children, well I'm sorry to say that it doesn't come from a dress size.  If we teach our kids to be active and to fuel their bodies properly with the right foods then no matter their size and with a little luck they'll be happy, healthy and feel good in their skin. 

The truth is that America is made up of a variety of body types that run the gamut from what society considers thin to obese.  No one knows why each of us have these different outward appearances.  You may assume, but unless you know for sure it could be healthy diet/unhealthy diet, being active, not being active, slow metabolism, fast metabolism, good old fashioned genetics, an eating disorder and any culmination of the above.  So instead of judging good or bad, right or wrong, the only way we can benefit our children in the long run is to lead by example, do the best we can, accept each other differences and all, and when we do fall short, which I know I will, get back up and try, try, again.

   Whether toy companies decide to make dolls that represent what real people look like or not, one thing is for sure, if we respond negatively to each other's differences pretend or for real, our kids are sure to do the same.  Encouraging them instead, to welcome diversity sets them up to live successful lives and have a positive impact on their communities.  Who knows, that change may come from one little girl saving up her allowance for that plus sized Barbie at the toy store.