Barbie: A girls best friend?

Barbie has been the most popular toy for 50 years this very year! I’m sure if we think back the majority of us have had or played with a Barbie in our lives, both boys and girls! As young naive children we didn’t realise the extent of Barbie’s influence on us.
The Dolls originated from a made up German character that was a bit of a naughty figure, if you get my drift;) She was then later changed into a children’s toy later on of which was not the original intent of her creation.
Barbie is designed to be very tall, big boobs and an iddy biddy waist that can’t be achieved by a normal woman. This gives us as children the image to think that is how we should look and want to be her leading to many food disorders.
The Independent published an article (link below) stating that anorexia has soured in young teenage girls to over 80% in the last 10 years, showing it is a very big problem.
Could the reason for food disorders in teenagers on the increase be due to how woman are portrayed in toys, and the media such as girl magazines? Is it bad for Mattel (Barbie manufacturers) to create a doll that is freakishly think and unobtainable for a girl to be and should they design a new normal doll? Or are we just too image obsessed in this country now-a-days?
For more information on Barbie visit: http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/barbie-body-image.html
For more information on the Independent article on the scary anorexia numbers visit: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/big-rise-in-teenage-girls-admitted-to-hospital-with-anorexia-1624881.html
Picture of Barbie taken from babydolltoys.org
Picture of Barbie measurements taken from mdaily.com