Disney princesses usually face obstacles in the course of their journey to a ‘happily ever after’, many of which can be quite hazardous to their health! — Walt Disney Studios
Although Disney princesses seem to live happily ever after, they face serious real world health hazards, warn experts in the 2024 Christmas issue* of The BMJ medical journal.
University of Twente PhD candidate Sanne van Dijk and her colleagues in the Netherlands call on Disney to consider strategies such as mindfulness and personal protection measures to improve princesses’ well-being and help them start living healthily ever after.
Snow White is the “fairest of them all”, yet as an only child with a wicked stepmother, her opportunities for social interaction are extremely limited, putting her at risk of cardiovascular (heart) disease, depression, anxiety and early death.
Fortunately, she meets the Seven Dwarfs, who protect her from the dangers of solitude, but then she eats a poisoned apple, highlighting that, for Snow White, the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” fails spectacularly.
Princess Jasmine from Aladdin is also at risk of the health effects of loneliness as she grows up within the walls of her palace with no friends at all, note the authors.
Meanwhile, her pet tiger Rajah not only poses a risk of zoonotic infection, but its natural instincts could also lead to a dangerous and potentially fatal situation.
In Beauty and the Beast, close contact with the Beast also exposes Belle to many potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, such as brucellosis or rabies.
And Cinderella’s continuous exposure to dust puts her at risk of developing occupational lung disease.
This is made worse by her fairy godmother spreading massive quantities of magical glitter – otherwise known as aluminium-coated microplastics – that can penetrate human lung tissue, explain the authors.
Rather than a prince, they suggest Cinderella needs ongoing respiratory therapy to live happily ever after.
In her drive to bring peace between Native Americans and English settlers, Pocahontas’ cliff dive has an impressive falling time of nine seconds.
But with an estimated cliff height of 252 metres, the authors warn that such a leap would leave Pocahontas with “a symphony of fractures rather than a harmonious tune with nature”.
In Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora’s “infinite sleep” carries risks of cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes, while prolonged bed rest is linked to increased risk of pressure ulcers and muscle atrophy.
Luckily, Prince Philip breaks the sleeping spell by kissing her, though the authors note that he also breaks with current social norms by neglecting to obtain consent first.
While Mulan is celebrated as a warrior who saves the empire of China, she repeatedly experiences pressure from her family to uphold their honour.
Women facing honour-based violence may experience increased levels of mental ill health from being forced into living a life they did not choose, note the authors.
Finally, the authors warn that Rapunzel’s hair follicles are likely to have been damaged from repetitive excessive pulling on her long braid.
This condition known as traction alopecia, can lead to scalp pain, headaches and permanent hair loss.
“Disney must consider interventions to overcome these health challenges, including mindfulness and psychotherapy, training on cohabitation with animals, and personal protection measures against infectious agents and toxic particles,” they write.
“Only then can Disney princesses start living healthily ever after.”
*Editor’s note: The annual Christmas issue of The BMJ features quirky and light-hearted research articles and commentaries.
