Disney princesses seem to lead the perfect fairytale life, but UT researchers Sanne van Dijk, Michael Bui and Anouk Eijkelboom shed a different light on their health in a humorous article. In an opinion piece in the Christmas edition of the medical journal The BMJ, the researchers argue that eight well-known Disney princesses do not live as 'happily ever after' as the movies make it seem.
The Christmas edition of The BMJ is known for its light-hearted and creative approach, and this research is no exception. With fictitious analyses, the researchers show how loneliness, occupational diseases and special living conditions influence the lives of princesses such as Snow White, Belle and Cinderella.
Lung disease and bone fractures
For example, Cinderella is at risk of lung disease due to the dust clouds and glitter microplastics she comes into contact with every day, and Mulan has to watch out for her mental health because she is forced to live a life she did not choose. Pocahontas should have several bone fractures after jumping about 252 meters off a cliff.
"To address these health challenges, Disney should consider measures, including mindfulness and psychotherapy, training on living with animals and personal protection measures against toxic particles," the researchers write. "Only then can Disney princesses live healthily and happily ever after.”
Health of princesses
"Until now, research has focused mainly on the effects of Disney films on the health of viewers, without investigating the health risks of the princesses themselves," the researchers write in their opinion piece. "The article is purely satirical and should not be interpreted as a serious critique," says researcher Michael Bui.
Learn more
The article, entitled 'Living happily ever after? The hidden health risks of Disney princesses' was published today in the medical journal The BMJ and can be read online. This work was fully done during the researchers' leisure time. Sanne van Dijk, Michael Bui and Anouk Eijkelboom are researchers in the Department of Health Technology and Services Research (HTSR; Faculty of BMS / TechMed Centre).
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.q2497
