Experts say that if dolls like Barbie or the Bratz linewere living, breathing women, their proportions would make them disabled. The dolls have stick-thin arms, waists that are less than half the size of their heads, and disproportionately large breasts.

"Dietitians Association of Australia spokeswoman Tania Ferraretto said the 'unrealistic' body shapes had a 'huge impact' on women, but more so on children. 'If you speak to adults, everyone will say we know it's not realistic... but it has a subliminal impact,' she said."

Though some say children are more influenced by the images of models in magazines, they still agree that Barbie and dolls like her can set unrealistic body image expectations for the little girls who play with them. Source: The Advertiser (Australia)

Labels: influences, media_influences, role_models