Disney Princesses: The Hidden Health Risks They Face
In a world where Disney princesses are portrayed as living happily ever after, experts warn that these beloved characters actually face serious real-world health hazards. Sanne van Dijk and colleagues, in the Christmas issue of The BMJ, call on Disney to consider strategies such as mindfulness and personal protection measures to improve princesses’ well-being and help them truly start living healthily ever after.
Snow White, known as the “fairest princess of all,” faces the dangers of cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and early death due to her limited social interactions as a scullery maid for her wicked stepmother. Despite the protection provided by the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White’s encounter with a poisoned apple highlights the failure of the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Princess Jasmine from Aladdin also struggles with loneliness, growing up within the confines of her palace without any friends. Additionally, her pet tiger Rajah poses a risk of zoonotic infection and potentially dangerous situations due to its natural instincts.
In Beauty and the Beast, Belle’s close contact with the Beast exposes her to infectious diseases such as brucellosis or rabies. Cinderella’s exposure to dust puts her at risk of occupational lung disease, exacerbated by the fairy godmother’s use of magical glitter that can penetrate human lung tissue.
Pocahontas’ daring cliff dive, while impressive, would likely result in severe injuries due to the height of the cliff. Princess Aurora’s prolonged sleep in Sleeping Beauty carries risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes, as well as pressure ulcers and muscle atrophy.
Mulan faces pressure from her family to uphold their honor, leading to mental health challenges from being forced into a life she did not choose. Finally, Rapunzel’s long braid puts her at risk of traction alopecia, scalp pain, headaches, and permanent hair loss.
The experts emphasize the need for interventions to overcome these health challenges, including mindfulness, psychotherapy, training on cohabitation with animals, and personal protection measures against infectious agents and toxic particles. Only then can Disney princesses truly start living healthily ever after.
For more information on this topic, you can refer to the study published in The BMJ titled “Living happily ever after? The hidden health risks of Disney princesses” (2024) with DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q2497.
Source:
British Medical Journal
Citation:
“Disney princesses face hidden health risks, warn experts” (2024, December 16)
Retrieved 17 December 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-disney-princesses-hidden-health-experts.html
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