Does Barbie Doll Promote Unhealthy Body Expectations? Sports Illustrated Barbie Cover Fuels Controversy

It was recently announced that Barbie doll will appear in the upcoming Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. This has caused a great deal of controversy among those who believe that the slender "fashion model" doll causes little girls to have unrealistic body expectations.

Can you really blame a doll for the fact Americans are eating themselves into obesity?

There is a movement afoot to create fatter role models today, everything from demanding plus-size models to fatter Disney princesses. But which is the better role model? The answer is perhaps neither, but the health odds are stacked heavily in Barbie's favor.

Read more at: 

• Does Barbie cause unrealistic body expectations? New SI Barbies fuel controversy - Nashville Skin, Health & Beauty Examiner
• Barbie's 'Unapologetic' Sports Illustrated cover causes controversy - National Barbie Collecting Examiner