Key Points
- The opening scene in a new episode of Bluey has drawn criticism online from concerned parents.
- Some say the scene, which shows Bluey's parents weighing themselves, sends a damaging message to children.
- Others say it's simply a reflection of reality, and that parents should be allowed to worry about their weight.
It's an Australian children's TV show beloved by many.
But the opening scene in a new episode of Bluey has drawn criticism online for what some say is the harmful message it sends to children.
The episode, titled Exercise, begins with Bluey's father Bandit and mother Chilli weighing themselves in the bathroom and expressing dissatisfaction at the numbers they see on the scale, in full view of their children.
As he looks at his body in the mirror and grabs his stomach, Bandit tells his children he needs to do some exercise, seemingly correlating his weight and physical appearance with his overall health and wellbeing.
Parents were divided over the episode on social media, with some saying it simply reflected reality, while others asserted it had the potential to do real damage to children's body image.
Paediatric dietitian Dr Kyla Ringrose was among those to express disappointment at the scene.
"Huge Bluey fan, but watching Bandit and Chilli weigh themselves and openly hate on their bodies in front of their kids was really uncomfortable," she wrote on Instagram.
"Bluey specialises in being relatable to parents, and I love that. But they're equally progressive and aware of current social issues and this episode is really out of step.
"Kids do not need to be watching parents hate on their bodies or exercise to get thinner. They missed a big opportunity here."
While many shared Dr Ringrose's concerns, others disagreed, saying parents should be allowed to worry about their weight if they want to, and that they too struggled to fit exercise in around their work and caring responsibilities — an issue addressed in the episode.
Research shows .
According to the Butterfly Foundation, a charity for those impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, people start developing body image in their early childhood and are especially sensitive to messages from their parents about appearance.
Feminist content creator Lauren Beckman said that, as someone with a history of disordered eating, seeing scales and weight loss used "as a motivator for exercise" was "triggering" for her.
"We can do better for our kids and break the negative associations of exercise with weight loss and how we look rather than how we feel," she wrote on Instagram.
"There are so many other reasons to exercise. It shouldn't be linked to a number on a scale and a 'need' to exercise as a result of what that number says.
"I don't want my daughter exposed to this kind of relationship with weight and exercise. Let's not pass on weight stigma and to our kids. We owe them that."
Dr Ringrose said that, while she "loved" the episode's message about parents being active with their children, it could have been told with a different opening scene.
"Exercise does have benefits and is great for our health, I agree. But exercising to look differently isn’t the message I want my kids to receive," she wrote.
"If the episode was re-made so the first 30 seconds were about Bandit not having energy or Chilli feeling a bit flat, and then decided to to get some movement in to feel well — I'd be all for it."
SBS News has contacted Ludo Studio, Bluey's production company, for comment.
Readers seeking support for body image concerns and eating disorders can contact Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. More information is available at
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNicy5jb20uYXUvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlL3doeS10aGlzLWVwaXNvZGUtb2YtYmx1ZXktaGFzLWJlZW4tY3JpdGljaXNlZC1ieS1zb21lLXBhcmVudHMvc2liYzEyYWcw0gEA?oc=5
2023-04-17 06:19:38Z
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