This may be a surprise, but kids prefer cartoon characters to look like healthy kids. You wouldn't know it by looking at many of the cartoons that are out now -- many shows feature boys as muscular heroes and girls with unnaturally proportioned body parts.

Recent research shows that what many cartoons deliver isn't what kids actually prefer. More than 1,000 kids between the ages of three and 12 were given a choice between three versions of a female cartoon character -- one with an unnaturally thin waist, one with normal proportions, and one with a chubby waist. Happily, 70% of girls and boys chose the character with the normal proportions. The kids also prefer cartoon characters depicting children instead of adults.

I think it's awesome that kids gravitate toward the healthier, more realistic image. It just goes to show that kids can have a healthy body image. If you're a parent, picking the right shows for your kids to watch is just one way to protect their body image. Kaboose has more ideas.

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