Disney Characters are having a makeover via Barneys New York (October 2012)

Yes you heard it correctly through the title that The Walt Disney Company has teamed up with Barneys New York in preparation for mid-November and fashion week. When I first received this email towards the end of summer I was beside myself to think that characters that I have adored my entire childhood will appear in these new photos as having eating disorders or problematic body issues. That is visually what it looks like to me. Disney characters are being transformed into tall bony supermodels. Is this really necessary?

The theme is called “Electric Holiday” and the premise is supposed to be about fashion week and how Minnie Mouse has a fantasy in Paris with Mickey and other characters looking very trendy. If you examine the pictures of the characters more closely you might agree that it appears that they need to increase her calories if you ask me.

This doesn’t seem like a good idea for kids as kids begin to idealize characters at such a young age and want to be like the characters that they admire. They want to dress like their favorite idol, have hair like them, and of course have their body be like theirs too. I could go on with other areas that kids idealize but I do know that this topic has stirred up a hot topic amongst me and my colleagues.

Being a nutrition therapist who specializes in eating disorders and eating disorders I hear kids daily speak about their role models. Couldn’t Barney’s put some designer clothes on Mickey, Minnie and Goofy without changing their shape? Before you know it their food choices will be made public and kids will not be eating what they enjoy eating and they will feel like they need to diet. This will increase the shame and guilt when kids are eating their favorite foods since my favorite Disney Characters doesn’t eat that food. He or she only eats low fat and diet products. This isn’t a good message for kids. This will develop into future food and body image issues.

This is important for the public to be made aware of as there are websites that one may write how they feel about this new campaign. Google this topic and see the pictures for yourself.