British minister says ban scrawny models

James Deuce

GFX Moderator

LONDON - A British Cabinet minister on Saturday called for London Fashion Week to follow its Madrid counterpart and ban extremely thin models from the catwalk.

Fashion Week organizers rejected the call � but said they were canceling the event's opening photo call to avoid giving the issue more publicity.

Last week Madrid's Fashion Week, the Pasarela Cibeles, announced it was banning models with a Body Mass Index, or height to weight ratio, below 18.

Organizers of the Spanish event said they wanted models to project "an image of beauty and health" and shun a gaunt, emaciated look.

"I applaud the decision taken by Madrid to ban super-thin models, and urge the organizers of London Fashion Week to do the same," British Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

The World Health Organization considers people with a BMI below 18.5 underweight. To achieve a BMI of 18, a 5-foot-9 model would have to weigh about 125 pounds. The average runway model at that height is 115 pounds.

The body mass index is a tool for doctors who study obesity. It 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 considered normal. Below 18.5 they are underweight.

"The fashion industry's promotion of beauty as meaning stick thin is damaging to young girls' self image and to their health," Jowell said in a statement.

"Young girls aspire to look like the catwalk models � when those models are unhealthily underweight it pressurizes girls to starve themselves to look the same."

The British Fashion Council, which runs Fashion Week, said in a statement that it "does not comment or interfere in the aesthetic of any designer's show."

"The BFC has canceled the photo call on Sunday because it is unwilling to add any more impetus to the publicity surrounding this complicated issue," it added,

London Fashion Week opens Monday and runs through Friday.

Source: Yahoo News

Good Im glad they are doing this, there are way to much skinny people in that industry, I mean I know your supposed to not be fat but your not supposed to have your ribs hangen out. Its the industrys fault IMO because if a girl wants a job 8/10 times they say "Lose some pounds and we will talk" Thats the reason theres so much women like that IMO. Your thoughts....

Suffy

good for them but what defines skinny why should they waste parlimentary time defining something as stupid as what skinny is it doesnt really affect the country that much when theres much bigger things that should and could be discussed

James Deuce

GFX Moderator

Ya, They should focus on more importent things than that, But I dont really know alot about europe and whats going on over there so I dont really know what the issues are over there.

Dr. Kill'Tjoy

All the girls in my grade are anorexic whores because of celebrities and models doing it. I agree with baning super thin models. Just look at what they turned my school into...

Ajax

^^^ Atleast you don't have to deal with fat bitches.

Although I am sick of seeing chicks that are hot becoming so skinny that they no longer look hot.

TheStallion117

I think this is a great thing, and actually wouldn't mind seeing it happen in the US now.