Building Better Bodies

Things have certainly changed since the days when any girl who wanted to seem at all sophisticated moaned and groaned loudly about PE class. Sweaty physical exercise, with the possible exception of dance class, was for nerds. And no amount of gym teacher propaganda (i.e., strategically placed Cathy Rigby posters, with Cathy in full split) had much effect on the cool crowd.

Now, however, the pre-pubescent set has become swept up in the fitness craze. And toy manufacturers are supplying them with their very own exercise equipment. At Victor’s toy store in Reseda, a $29.95 workout set by Hasbro called “Get N Shape Girl” has been selling briskly for about six months.

“It’s something new and different,” says sales clerk Eunice Bess. “The girls like it. They see it on TV, I guess.” Get N Shape Girl is aimed at girls ages 6 to 12 and includes a workout cassette, mat, wrist and headband, and a bag for toting exercise clothes.

Toys R Us in Burbank also carries a smaller version of Get N Shape Girl for $12.97, plus three little weights by Bollinger costing from $6.97 to $8.97 each, an ankle and wrist set, a waist trimmer and a thigh trimmer. And, for boys who aim to be built, there is a Hulk Mania Workout Set by L. J. N. for $19.97.

Parents, do you know what gyms your children are at tonight?