THE WORLD THIS WEEK: Fear of game’s harmful effects

Parents and health groups are worried about an online virtual fashion game that has got kids logging on. Miss Bimbo lets players buy their characters clothes with ‘bimbo dollars’, and even give them plastic surgery or diet pills. People are worried that girls as young as nine are playing it, and that it could encourage eating disorders. But the people behind the website say it’s not dangerous and it sends out the message that diet pills make you ill. Beat, a group which supports people with eating disorders, warned the game could make girls think controlling their weight and size was okay.