The War on Skinny

"Who knows, there could actually be a collective sigh of relief among models."

Exactly. While some people could be naturally small or have a larger frame, in the modeling industry, the thinnest is part of the resume. I do not have anything against a certain look, but the standards are not realistic. They seem to promote and encourage eating disorders.

An average BMI of 14! No matter how flawed the BMI system is, I think it's safe to say that Israeli models must be some of the most unhealthy in the world. Hopefully with these new commitments from the advertisers, the poor girls can start eating again, while still keeping their jobs.

For those who think it's ok to expect women to starve for their careers "because some people are naturally thin" (I get sick of hearing that excuse for the concentration camp victim look on the catwalks), is there any other profession you can think of that asks its' employees to deprive themselves of food and put their health seriously at risk?

Sarah White is right in saying that the BMI isn't a good way to decide who stays and who goes, but until someone comes up with a better way of determining overall health, it is at least a good start.

I also believe people come in all shapes and sizes and I love that.
The world would look boring if we were all uniform.
It’s perfectly fine to be skinny but an 18 BMI is skinny
But when only models who are a size 14 our hired we’re telling society and the models that having a 17 to 18 BMI isn’t skinny enough.
I think the BMI is a good start.
The BMI's flaw is it tells people they are fat when they aren't. A man with muscles would have the same BMI if all he had was fat. Right I turned out to be too skinny at a BMI of 21-22. I had too low of body fat.
So a couple of models might be thinner than they think with a BMI of 18.

...the BMI may be flawed, but it is a start.

ANY starting point to get the industry's and the public's *serious* attention to the unnatural, gaunt, anorexic look as a fashion standard is welcome. Youth needs healthier looking models.

I'm glad this is happening, and I hope it doesn't just die out like many trends do. My 14 year old granddaughter is naturally thin, but she couldn't consider being a model under the past standards. She has often remarked that she wished she were thinner, which concerns me.

Having a BMI of 19.5 --no normal person has ever accused me of being too thin or anorexic. However, it I lost 10 lbs I feel I would look too thin, and people would tell me so. There is this natural weight my body likes to stay at, and I would guess that since I have always been active, that plays a part. I doubt that most models work out-- many of them just have that starved, no muscle tone look. A few might do some weight training for their upper arms, but overall, they don't look like they eat enough. A BMI below 19 on a very tall woman just doesn't look healthy to me. There is lean looking and then there is weak looking--and some of these young women look so weak, I'm sure the boots and coats they are modeling can be heavy burdens for some them to move in.
Then they are forced into that ridiculous 'walk' . I love fashions shows, and would welcome some strong & slim models moving in a more fluid, graceful manner.

Okay, I understand that women come in all shapes and sizes and that we shouldn't discriminate against "skinny" girls any more than "curvy" girls. But I HIGHLY doubt that there are very many girls out there that NATURALLY have a BMI of 14...that's ridiculous. You know that most of the models out there have to watch their diets like a hawk and be freakishly skinny. I also think BMI is slightly flawed, since I have a fairly low BMI of 18, but yet I don't appear anorexic or too skinny. I am also very muscular and short, so my BMI is a little off. My husband's BMI is slightly higher than mine, yet he has almost 10% MORE fat than I do, so he looks "fatter" at the same BMI. I think models should be portraying healthy women of all shapes and sizes, not just be glorified clothes hangers.

FYI, a 5'10" woman would have to weigh 98lbs to have a BMI of 14 (at 126lbs, she'd have a BMI of 18).

I agree with posters who've said that while some people are naturally very thin, almost noone naturally has a BMI of 14, and I think the point that these women are employees also bears repeating. The level of thiness that's now a requirement for models is irresponsible and insane. Madrid's step sounds a little weird, but I think is the only sensible thing to do. I see it a bit like the government regulation of tobacco commercials on tv, combined with laws to protect workers' safety.

Until we as a society say we've had enough, and actually make a decision to do something, skinny models and those they work for will continue to flourish, as they have.

This really begins in the home, especially with young girls and how they're raised. The influences they are permitted to view and the values that are instilled in them. Just to name a couple.

"PLUS" size models should also be banned. One hundred times more people die from overweight than from anorexia.

They should only allow advertising to show people within the "healthy" and/or "normal" weight range.

Also, now that I think about it, models with suntans should be banned.

Death rates from melanoma are very high and we certainly don't want to be encouraging people to expose their bodies to the sun or tanning salons.

""PLUS" size models should also be banned. One hundred times more people die from overweight than from anorexia.

They should only allow advertising to show people within the "healthy" and/or "normal" weight range.

Plus sized models are a size 8 (US), which is healthy.

According to the 'do-it-yourself' BMI calculator for women, I'm 'underweight' at a BMI of just 18.5. But I've ALWAYS been thin, never able to gain much weight or keep it on if I do, and I still have a very healthy appetite and am (as far as I know) pretty healthy too (meaning I have lots of energy to spare)!

I DID manage to get up to 145 lbs. for a short time once, as a teenager, but it was a real struggle just getting there. Frankly, at that weight I looked 'fat' (very 'hippy' with a lot of weight concentrated on the thighs, although unfortunately that extra weight never landed on my bosom as hoped for! LOL.) I also noticed that at that weight I had a far more pronounced 'pear shape' which I didn't find attractive at all. But when I remain at about 125 lbs. (the weight I 'normally' seem to gravitate to), my figure looks much more 'in proportion.' The reason I'm saying all this is, I think it REALLY depends on the individual and her particular 'body type' along with bone structure, age, etc. For me, a BMI of 18.5 is not too thin IMHO. However, I do agree that anything below '17' for a fully-grown woman would probably be WAY too thin!

So.... why are these adds on this page (on this diet blog)??

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I don't think the guy who writes this blog has any control over which advertisements show up here.

I've noticed a real reduction in quality of ads coming from Google. They pick out ads based on the content of the page (at the moment I see one that talks about getting fitter at an exercise studio - something I'm totally happy with)... But then other people seem to get these inane and insane ads.

The pictures of some of these models make me think of a movie...... Shindler's List.

how do these models have boobs? i wish i had their job and their determination, but they need to start eating! these poor girls will be so happy to hear that they are ALOUD to now!!

Danielle...I think most of them get implants. Not to mention that it is possible to have boobs and be skinny if you don't hardly exercise...they're "skinny-fat", meaning they have plenty of fat but no muscle whatsoever. Since boobs are pretty much all fat, I guess those stick around. I'm still pretty sure that most of them get implants though.

Spectra is right, the Sports Illustrated ones usually have implants, and the runway ones are often completely flat, so that explains it too. The ones "with boobs" like Naomi Campbell and Gisele have fake ones.

Tyra Banks seems to be the only super model w/o implants. Good for her. She looks "healthy" and beautiful.

I have a question...I'm confused about my BMI. I went to my local gym for a fitness evaluation. I had the entire O2, flexibility, strength, etc. tests along with BMI measurement that took my weight, thigh, hip, & arm measures to calculate my BMI. I was SHOCKED when she (personal trainer) came back with a BMI of 18. I was 19 before I had my daughter. I am medium boned, I do have a large chest (38C), and my stomach needs alot of work, but other than that I wear a 10 maybe an 8. You'd be shocked @ how much I weigh and it's not under 150 lbs! Is this measurement way off? Do I really have that much muscle despite the "spare tire" I have in my middle? Any comments or personal experience please add. I can't find much on the Internet. Thank you.

Gretchen, BMI is not supposed to take your measures... are you sure that wasn't a body fat percentage measuring? If it was, 18 might be off, yes, since 18% for a woman means pretty visibly fit (aka no tires anywhere). Also, for an accurate body fat percentage measure, you need a water test, calipers (most common) or at least an electric device (Tanita scale, some handheld ones - less accurate). Any sort of estimate based on measurements is completely off.

Calculating the BMI is simple. Get your height in meters (you can use an online converter or just add that 5' = 152.4cm and 1' = 2.54 cm. So if you're say, 5'5" = 165.1cm, which is 1.65m). Now multiply your height in meters by itself. In this example, the result is 2.7225.
Now get your weight in kilos (divide your weight in pounds by 2.2. If you weigh 160lb for ex. that is 72.72 kilos). Divide your weight in kilos by the result of your height in m X your height in meters, so in this case, 72.72/2.7225 = 26.7. That would be the BMI of someone who weighs 160lb and is 5'6".

That is part of the reason the BMI is so criticized: it does not account for muscle mass, age, or bone structure. It is an absolute measure. I'm sorry the evaluation at your gym wasn't as good as it should have been.

I just came across this article it is amazing, so true and insightful about what is going on in our society and our obsession with thinness! hope this link works, Im not sure i know how to make it a hyperlink! if not cut and paste it in your browser. Its really worth reading Link

jusjules, excellent article - and yeah, your link worked :).

@jusjules: Good spotting. That article has been in my 'list' of things to blog about!

hi, i think skinny models are disbicable!

BMI of 14 ?!?!
That is incredibly low !
How are they living ?

I can understand that models, especially in sketching designs, need to be tall and thin because the clothing falls better, the best lines are created, and there it's easier for flow and emphasis and clearer detail... blah blah blah.
But I think they should have strict rules when using models.
They need to take into account their health and their BMI and other stuff.
Designers are creating clothes for many people and their models should represent the majority of the people that buy from them or the average person.

Then again, I like models that are pretty skinny... if some garment makes a model look bigger, then I immediately know that it will probably make me look HUGE, and I forget about wanting the clothes.
It's an easy way to cut down my wish list, lol.

That probably sounds terrible to say, lol.
:-/

Traynor said:
"PLUS" size models should also be banned. One hundred times more people die from overweight than from anorexia.[...]

Plus-size models are not always overweight.
They're usually size 10 to 18... and size 10 is definitely NOT huge.
Plus, their minimum height requirement is taller than a "regular" model.
So it's not necessarily that they are fatter, they might just have a bigger bone structure or something.

Plus-size modelling should NOT be banned.
It's sometimes smore realistic for the average person.

jodie said:
hi, i think skinny models are disbicable! [...]

That's not very nice to say.
How would you like someone to say that you are dispicable ?

Hey... My name is susan, i am a international model based in milan....I have greater experiance with eating presure in the modeling and fashion industie..
But i have to say, some agencys are geting bettar at guid and help there models.. The fashion management in london are one of them that i got very good experiance.. the owner is a edutacted Nutritionist... for all the models he sign up, he demand that the models do a nutritional consultation 2 times a year..so, there are some positive progress in the industrie... and lets hope there are more to come..

Susan, I'm glad to hear some people are adopting good practices.

Hey. I'm doing an article for my school newspaper about how France is now banning too thin models and I think it's an excellent start! In my opinion a fashion show should contain differnt sizes of HEALTHY models to represent real live society because us women do come in different sizes. I mean look at Queen Latifa-she's beautiful, big, and HEALTHY! I think this is a great jumpstart to healthier women and hopefully help young girls see their good qualities and not just their flaws.

lily, I wasn't aware France was jumping on the bandwagon, but I know Italy is:

http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2006-12-07T160131Z_01_L0742708_RTRUKOC_0_UK-ITALY-MODELS.xml&rpc=92

Israel was actually the first to start the ban on skinny models...all the way back in 2004!

my girlfriend is seriously ill. it is so frustrating to watch someone die so young. for god sakes, eat girls! most if not all men are more attracted to girls with "meat on their bones". protruding creaky bones, dehydration, starvation, mental and emotional problems- NOT ATTRACTIVE!!

Traynor wrote: "Also, now that I think about it, models with suntans should be banned. Death rates from melanoma are very high and we certainly don't want to be encouraging people to expose their bodies to the sun or tanning salons."

Here in Australia, the Cancer Council monitors the advertising and editorial pages of fashion magazines and gives awards to those companies and magazines which don't promote unhealthy tans. It's working - most lingerie models sport their natural skin colour and now even many swimsuit models are naturally pale-skinned - very refreshing!

RedPanda, I'd heard about that measure and thought it was fantastic.

Pete, I'm sorry for you and I hope your girlfriend can recover.

I don't completely agree that thin models are responsible for girls who develop eating disorders. There is so much talk about weight, and whether it is pro or anti-skinny, that can have the same effect. As a former sufferer myself I found that made it more appealing as it was dangerous and given so much attention.
Also people need to be a lot less harsh on naturally thin people. I now have absolutely no weight problems and have a BMI of 17.8, I really do eat quite a lot, but I've had quite a few friends who have suffered from anorexia and bulimia (before I did myself) and people have blamed this on me which is hurtful.
Overall I really think it's just one of those things that won't go away untill people just leave it alone so it can kick itself in the head.

As far as the "runway model look" goes, I have always found them to be incredibly unattractive. I mean aside from the fact that they are thin, there isn't much to them in terms of their looks. If you have ever been to a real fashion show featuring clothes from top designers, you would probably not be totally impressed with the girls themselves- the clothing becomes the focus, as it should be. I went to a show with some of my friends who pretty much just criticized the way the girls looked the whole time rather than looking at the clothes. I thought that was pretty sad because the show was incredible. So if anyone out there really wishes they had the body of a runway model, trust me, you might want to rethink that. My guess is you are WAY more beautiful and probably don't have the sunken eyes and bony look that most runway models are known to have. They don't smile much either (probably because they are so hungry).

Lucy, while you may be in perfect health, I think that to call anyone who is a recovering ED patient someone that is "naturally thin". Anyone who has had an ED or dieted even isn't "naturally anything" anymore. Even a simple diet affects your ability to eat intuitively for life, imagine what an ED does. So you are thin and in good health, but I wouldn't go as far as call it natural.

On the road, I completely agree with your opinion. Singer K. T. Tunstall said that the reason she thinks female celebrities act like such divas, with the crazy demands, the fights, the rudeness, etc. is simply that "they are hungry". I think she has a good theory there.