Dangerous Skinny Models

Posted by Lori Henry Oct 13, 2006

Doctors in London put out their strongest call yet for underweight models to be banned from the catwalk. In an open letter to the British Fashion Council, 40 health professionals and Doctors at London’s biggest eating disorders clinic insisted on a ban of models who are “clearly anorexic.”

"There is no doubt that there is cause and effect here," said Professor Janet Treasure of the Eating Disorders Service and Research Unit at King's College London. "The fashion industry showcases models with extreme body shapes, and this is undoubtedly one of the factors leading to young girls developing eating disorders."

The letter was in response to the recent controversy on models under the BMI of 18 to be banned from the Madrid Fashion Week and urges London’s fashion industry to follow suit.

Professor Janet was also quoted as saying, "The Spanish example is very sensible. Eating disorders go hand-in-hand with a range of other problems, including substance abuse, behavioural issues and self harm. If young girls are seeing these poor role models, they can develop habits that are very difficult to shift in later life."

Sales of an American size 0, size 4 in the UK, are on sale at popular shops such as Miss Selfridge and Top Shop. The trousers are made for a 22” waist, the average measurements of an 8 year old girl.

"There are increasingly very, very thin women, who look as underdeveloped as pre-teens and they seem desperate to fit into the smallest sizes," says a shop assistant at Top Shop where the petite sizes are selling very quickly.

An exerpt from the letter is as follows:

"The issue is not whether we should place the blame of unhealthy eating behaviours on the fashion industry or on anyone else. The issue is that Spanish health authorities have decided to intervene in a health issue, which is directly affecting the wellbeing of models as well as affecting the attitudes and behaviours of many young girls and women who may strive to imitate and attain these unhealthy pursuits.

"Adopting what Madrid has done is a good first step but the fashion industry, from designer to magazine editors, should not be making icons out of anorexically thin models. Magazines should stop printing these pictures and designers should stop designing for these models.

"People may say that clothes look better on skinny models but do not forget there was a time when smoking looked good too."