Too Thin to Model
Madrid's regional government dared to establish BMI (body mass index) guidelines to help police their own modeling industry in an effort to promote "healthy body weights" during its upcoming annual Fashion Week and encourages the United States fashion industry to do the same. What? Did I just hear right? Could some models be considered too thin to model? I think I've died and gone to heaven...a heaven with no bathroom scales and plenty of chocolate.
"It is high time to address the impact of fashion ads on potentially life-threatening eating disorders," commented Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association, headquartered in Seattle, Wash.)
"Sadly, while we have set occupational safety standards for other industries, we have ignored the hazards innate to the modeling profession or the impact made by their profession on children and young adults. We applaud Spain's leadership in safe guarding the health of both our youth and the fashion industry's own and hope we can make similar changes here at home," Grefe concluded.
The Madrid show is utilizing the body mass index or BMI - based on weight and height - to gauge models' eligibility (requiring a rating of around 18) and has turned away 30 percent of the women who took part last year. Medics will be present at the Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid, Sept. 18-22, to check models.
Here are some of the most interesting statements made in the recent NEDA press release alerting the press of this new development:
Many experts in the field of eating disorders believe that poor body image and self esteem - often negatively impacted by the unrealistic body images prevalent in advertising and other media - are a major contributor to the development of anorexia and/or bulimia among those who are already biologically and emotionally predisposed.
The average American woman stands 5'4", weighs 140 pounds and wears between a size 12-16. In 1965, the average fashion model weighed just 8% less than the average American woman. Ideals shifted with the popularity of British model Twiggy (considered one of the world's first "supermodels"), who stood 5'7", but weighed just 91 pounds. The average fashion model today is 5'11" and weighs 117 pounds, which makes her thinner than 98% of American women.
Too Thin To Model!
Madrid's required BMI rating of 18 would disqualify top Spanish model Esther Canadas and supermodels like Kate Moss (based on unofficial records of their height and weight).
Body mass index is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, and multiplying that total by 703. If the resulting number is between 18.5 and 24.9, the person's weight is normal. Below 18.5 they are underweight
My last thought is...
Hallelujah! I think this is the most enlightening thing to happen in the entertainment/fashion industry in my lifetime (and I'm no spring chicken).
~~Elaine
Related Topics: BMI Calculator, Body Image: Still a Problem for Teen Girls
Technorati Tags: anorexia, bulimia, supermodels, fashionweek, bmi
"It is high time to address the impact of fashion ads on potentially life-threatening eating disorders," commented Lynn Grefe, CEO of NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association, headquartered in Seattle, Wash.)
"Sadly, while we have set occupational safety standards for other industries, we have ignored the hazards innate to the modeling profession or the impact made by their profession on children and young adults. We applaud Spain's leadership in safe guarding the health of both our youth and the fashion industry's own and hope we can make similar changes here at home," Grefe concluded.
The Madrid show is utilizing the body mass index or BMI - based on weight and height - to gauge models' eligibility (requiring a rating of around 18) and has turned away 30 percent of the women who took part last year. Medics will be present at the Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid, Sept. 18-22, to check models.
Here are some of the most interesting statements made in the recent NEDA press release alerting the press of this new development:
Many experts in the field of eating disorders believe that poor body image and self esteem - often negatively impacted by the unrealistic body images prevalent in advertising and other media - are a major contributor to the development of anorexia and/or bulimia among those who are already biologically and emotionally predisposed.
The average American woman stands 5'4", weighs 140 pounds and wears between a size 12-16. In 1965, the average fashion model weighed just 8% less than the average American woman. Ideals shifted with the popularity of British model Twiggy (considered one of the world's first "supermodels"), who stood 5'7", but weighed just 91 pounds. The average fashion model today is 5'11" and weighs 117 pounds, which makes her thinner than 98% of American women.
Too Thin To Model!
Madrid's required BMI rating of 18 would disqualify top Spanish model Esther Canadas and supermodels like Kate Moss (based on unofficial records of their height and weight).
Body mass index is calculated by dividing weight in pounds by height in inches squared, and multiplying that total by 703. If the resulting number is between 18.5 and 24.9, the person's weight is normal. Below 18.5 they are underweight
My last thought is...
Hallelujah! I think this is the most enlightening thing to happen in the entertainment/fashion industry in my lifetime (and I'm no spring chicken).
~~Elaine
Related Topics: BMI Calculator, Body Image: Still a Problem for Teen Girls
Technorati Tags: anorexia, bulimia, supermodels, fashionweek, bmi
5 Comments:
It seems a little unfair & discriminatory to me... If girls were taught at home to have a healthy and comfortable relationship with food, maybe they won't be so vulnerable to eating disorders.
Anyway, Kate Moss is radiant with health, and gave birth a few years ago to a very healthy baby too.
Question. Do high fiber foods keep vitamins from being absorbed by your system???
Gretha, you can be grateful that you have never had to deal with anyone you loved who suffered from an eating disorder. It is a wicked, raveging, very misunderstood disease that has a tremendous impact on those who have it and people who love them. I applaud Spain and hope that the world follows suit.
I have a eating disorder that wasn't brought on by models but i was so happy to hear this news because i have a 9 yr old daughter i worry so much about other kids and teens and even older a eating disoder is a life time of hell if you haven't waled in the shoes you would never understand and being so thin is ugly!
More power to the people who are checking those numbers! I work with middle school girls through a mentoring program called Girl Talk and the issue of self esteem comes up about every session. We need more regulations out there, like this one, concerning what the younger generation is modeling themselves after.
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