Did Barbie Once Come With a Weight Loss Advice Book That Simply Read “Don’t Eat”?

Here is the latest in a series of examinations into urban legends about toys and whether they are true or false. Click here for an archive of all toy urban legends featured so far!

TOY URBAN LEGEND: Barbie was once sold with a diet book that simply read “don’t eat”?

Something that anyone telling jokes has to keep in mind is that context is often king. Something that is clearly meant as a joke in one context could be read as something else entirely in another context. I believe that this is at the heart of the infamous story of the weight loss advice book that came with Slumber Party Barbie.

In 1965, Mattel released “Slumber Party Barbie.”

barbie

Among the accessories in the release is a scale that is set to 110 pounds.

scale

In addition, the doll comes with a weight loss advice book that simply read “Don’t Eat.”

weightlossbarbie

I think that it was meant as a joke. There is no room in the tiny book for any other words. However, this particular joke definitely does fall flat.

There were other books for other Barbie releases of the era, although none of the other books included words…

barbiebooks

The set was modified and renamed Sleepytime Barbie in 1966 to omit the scale, but the book lasted as long as this particular set was being produced (which was just through 1967).

The most recent release of a set like this (Pajama Barbie) does not have anything like the scale or the weight loss advice book…

barbiepyjama

Anyhow, the legend is…

STATUS: True

Feel free (heck, I implore you!) to write in with your suggestions for future installments! My e-mail address is bcronin@legendsrevealed.com.

5 Responses to “Did Barbie Once Come With a Weight Loss Advice Book That Simply Read “Don’t Eat”?”

  1. Barbie’s 60’s robe is fabulous! Girl had taste.

  2. Ha! It really is a nice robe.

  3. And Mattell wonders why people complain about Barbie

  4. Well, while don’t get me wrong, this IS really bad, it was also nearly 50 years ago, ya know?

  5. […] produced until 1967. The scale was omitted from the accessories, but the book was still intact. [ x ]Edited at 2018-06-26 05:01 pm […]

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