Barbie recently turned 50, and while the 11.4-inch doll may look like she's standing the test of time, experts say that marking this middle-age milestone means the blonde beauty needs to start giving her health as much attention as her fashion.
Over the years, Barbie has proven to be a versatile athlete – taking on careers as a tennis pro, ice skater, ballerina, aerobic instructor and Olympic athlete in at least three sports.
“Barbie has always been very active and has the sports clothes to prove it,” says Vonda Wright, MD, the director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and author of Fitness After 40: How to Stay Strong at Any Age (2009).
But all that activity could soon start catching up with her, especially if she’s ever suffered an injury. Recent research has suggested that half of all adults will develop osteoarthritis in a knee in their lifetimes, and 1 in 4 are at risk of getting osteoarthritis in a hip.
To fend off joint pain, and maybe even the need for replacement parts, Dr. Wright, who is a member of Arthritis Today's Medical Advisory Board, says Barbie should embrace a future full of exercise, even if she can't do the same high-impact activities she took on in her 20s.
Exercise will also keep her heart healthy, her waistline trim, her stress in check and her bones strong.
As Barbie ages, Dr. Wright says her tissue will naturally stiffen if she sits around too much, and this is bad for joints. To increase flexibility and range of motion and reduce joint stiffness, she should build regular stretching into her workout too, perhaps by trying yoga, Pilates or tai chi.
Strength training will keep her muscles strong, and it will also help maintain good joint alignment and take the stress off her joints. ”Many think you have to go to the gym or hire someone to help, which is just creating barriers,” Dr. Wright said. “So Barbie can use the walls in her luxury Winnebago to do lunge squats or she can lift full water bottles to work the muscles in her arms.”
Then there’s the matter of appropriate footwear.
After teetering around in stilettos for five decades, Barbie should think about reducing stress through her hips, knees and ankles by wearing the right shoes. Lucky for her, flats are very fashionable right now.
It is about more than fashion, though. In just a few years, when Barbie hits 65, she has a 1 in 3 chance of breaking a bone. Barbie’s odds may be a bit higher because she has so many stairs to run up and down in that Malibu Dream House. So Dr. Wright suggests she also focus on improving her balance with daily practices of standing on one foot at a time. She might want to consider a minor home makeover, too. It’s a good idea to remove clutter and items around the house that can cause a fall.
Studies also show that as many as 55 percent of people over the age of 50 have lower than the recommended bone mass and don’t know it. So Barbie might want to consider a bone density test to see if she is at risk for osteoporosis.
If she hasn’t already committed to annual physicals, it’s a must-do after age 50. Experts say that women who are Barbie’s age need a colonoscopy to test for colorectal cancer and a yearly Pap smear and pelvic exam to screen for cervical cancer cells.
Barbie gets a lot of attention for her body, which, by the way, scientists say would be unhealthy and actually abnormal, if she were a real woman. But as she starts her sixth decade, Barbie’s mind needs attention, too. She’s had 108 careers so far - from astronaut to White House hopeful - and as she ages, doctors say Barbie needs to continue to rejuvenate her mind.
“Just because she’s had a variety of careers, doesn’t mean she can’t try another one,” Dr. Wright says. “It’s not a time to let your mind wander and think of the past. It’s a time to keep your mind sharp by challenging it.”
When you work on your body and mind, it can make your spirit younger too. “So she may be 50, but in her mind she will feel 20 or 30,” Dr. Wright says. “And I want her to make a life list. She should look to the future and say, what haven’t I experienced yet? Maybe she wants to swim with sharks or write a book about what it’s like to be Barbie.”
Finally, Dr. Wright suggests Barbie adopt a new life motto. “She shouldn’t think of 50 as arriving, she should think of 50 as beginning the next phase.”
Leave a Comment