All I can say is this: I'd rather have my children playing with beautiful thin Barbies than ugly fat dolls. I'd rather have my children model themselves after something esthetically pleasing than something unpleasant to look at. So shoot me. When the culture norm places the bar on respecting yourself to the extent that you maintain a healthy body weight and shiny coiffed hair, (for men AND women) making life more agreeable for all who look at you, it gives us a nation of lovely-looking folks with far fewer body issues. Trust me. You never see a Frenchwoman leaving the house without lipstick or a Frenchman going out in unpressed jeans, and the country is happier for it. (Although I do wish they'd get on the deodorant wagon. That would make for a nicer time in public transport.)