So... Recently doll company Mattel expanded their Barbie 'Fashionista' collection to include new body types, skin tones, hairstyles and so on. One of the new body types they introduced was the 'curvy' (read as: fat) body type. Social media hailed this as a fantastic move - Barbie is now more diverse and inclusive.

Some, however, have pointed out that in trying to change the previously unrealistic body image standards that Barbie promoted, Mattel has gone too far. Now, with the advent of the 'curvy' Barbie, children are being told that it's OK to be fat (read as: unhealthy). These critics draw comparisons to the adipositivity online campaign which aims to tell fat people that it's absolutely fine to be fat.

Do you think this new move by Mattel to include 'curvy' Barbie is a good thing, or do you think it's misguided? Do you think that, in this increasingly tolerant world we live in, being fat should be something immune from criticism? Should we be telling the youngest generation that it's OK to be fat?

I wouldn't go as far as to say scratch barbie but placing a standard of body image in young girls hand is really only going to go one way.

More ontopic, I think it's good the new range has been altered, the previous range was extremely unrealistic. However unhealthy eating and exercising habits should be discouraged.

A lot of people point out that being fat is unhealthy, which is true and being fat should be put in a negative light. But on the other hand, being bullied and therefore depressed because of your weight can cause health problems in the long run (mostly gastrointestinal ones, ulcers and whatnot). I think the pressure should be on the parents/teachers to keep kids healthy, not the kids themselves who don't know any better. Teaching kids not to be so superficial while keeping them healthy should be the way to go in my opinion. Later on, not getting laid should be enough of an incentive to stay slim.

Man I was about to make this all personal and about how being even overweight is a terrible thing, but then I browsed google images for a sec and those barbies aren't really even fat imo.

This is totally a step in the right direction, if only for the fact that they're so much more realistic than the previous lineup.