The Skinny Model Ban. Justified?
October 16th 2006 00:28
The Skinny Model Ban
As you may have heard in the media, Madrid Fashion Week has recently banned models with a Body Mass Index (BMI) - a ratio of height to weight - of less than 18. This being slightly under the healthy weight range of 18.5 – 25. This means that if a model is 170 cm tall, she (or he) would have to weigh at least 52 kilograms. This would mean that British supermodel Kate Moss could not partake.
And now, all models in the Milan Fashion Week will require a doctor's certificate that shows good health before they will be allowed to model at the autumn season shows next March.
Although, BMI doesn’t account for muscle mass, and hence it's possible to be very healthy and have an ‘overweight’ BMI. But being ‘underweight’ is a different story.
Calculate your BMI here.
This ban came after the model South American Luisel Ramos died after a starvation diet, which is a BMI of less than 15. She was only 22 years old when she died of a heart attack. Her diet consisted of only green leaves and diet coke for three months.
And it's not just the models that are starving themselves to be thin. They become role models for girls, especially teenagers who don’t seem to comprehend or even care about the consequential detriments to their health through crash-dieting (almost outright starvation). Also, the anxiety from bad body-image is also very bad for one’s mental health.
To calculate your BMI just divide your weight (in kilograms) by your hieght squared (in metres). Or, use the picture. For those of you who are interested, my BMI is 22. I know I have more muscle mass than my sister, who has a BMI of 19. If I was to throw in the exercise and my muscles started to reduce in mass, I would actually be ‘healthier’ from the BMI perspective.
So don’t take this measurement by itself. Knowing your body fat percentage is a much better indicator of your health in relation to your weight.
What do you think: Are models too thin? Are they getting any thinner?
News from SMH
Image in the Public Domain
As you may have heard in the media, Madrid Fashion Week has recently banned models with a Body Mass Index (BMI) - a ratio of height to weight - of less than 18. This being slightly under the healthy weight range of 18.5 – 25. This means that if a model is 170 cm tall, she (or he) would have to weigh at least 52 kilograms. This would mean that British supermodel Kate Moss could not partake.
And now, all models in the Milan Fashion Week will require a doctor's certificate that shows good health before they will be allowed to model at the autumn season shows next March.
Although, BMI doesn’t account for muscle mass, and hence it's possible to be very healthy and have an ‘overweight’ BMI. But being ‘underweight’ is a different story.
Calculate your BMI here.
This ban came after the model South American Luisel Ramos died after a starvation diet, which is a BMI of less than 15. She was only 22 years old when she died of a heart attack. Her diet consisted of only green leaves and diet coke for three months.
And it's not just the models that are starving themselves to be thin. They become role models for girls, especially teenagers who don’t seem to comprehend or even care about the consequential detriments to their health through crash-dieting (almost outright starvation). Also, the anxiety from bad body-image is also very bad for one’s mental health.
To calculate your BMI just divide your weight (in kilograms) by your hieght squared (in metres). Or, use the picture. For those of you who are interested, my BMI is 22. I know I have more muscle mass than my sister, who has a BMI of 19. If I was to throw in the exercise and my muscles started to reduce in mass, I would actually be ‘healthier’ from the BMI perspective.
So don’t take this measurement by itself. Knowing your body fat percentage is a much better indicator of your health in relation to your weight.
What do you think: Are models too thin? Are they getting any thinner?
News from SMH
Image in the Public Domain
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Comment by Adele
Lost Fanatic
Day Break TV
In other words, I think it's possible to be super-thin and still be healthy. But I can also see that lots of women *need* to have more weight on them to be healthy, and that they cannot get down to a model's weight without damaging their health, or killing themselves, as that model in your post did.
I'm not sure what the answer is. It would seem to be having a wider variety of body types on the runways. And yet, that slender youthfulness is what draws the crowds.
I don't have the answer. Thanks for letting me take up space in your comments section.
Comment by edward
Rocky's Running Diary
But I think it should be case by case, not just a blanket BMI level. And 18 isn't *that* low that it's a problem, there are lots of people who are just naturally thin; or like some of the girls I run with, who just exercise a lot, but are perfectly healthy.
I also think there needs to be re-education in the fashion industry, teaching people how to properly manage their weight.
Comment by RachDegab
And you're right about the damage to health bit, when you're that skinny you'r ereprodcution system shuts down. Those girls wouldnt get their periods, or be able to fall pregnant as your body is saying "look, i cant look after you, let alone an embryo too!"
Some people are naturally thin edward but if they're exercising a lot they would no doubt be eating sufficiently to get that energy and therefore be looking good. These models are thin due to poor diet, and they dont look good at all, just anorexic.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Officially last I checked I was underweight, but even so, I'd support this idea. Truth is, those who want to find 'thinspiration' can find it quite easily on the net - but if we can take moves such as this to stop, as a society, fetishising overly skinny as a symbol of perfection, then we're moving in the right direction.
Comment by The Daily Sonnet
The Daily Sonnet
Lots of Sonnets
Comment by RachDegab
RachDegab
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
spain again
While your'e about it
Viva l'difference
Fire News Blog
Cities dying of thirst.
Comment by The Daily Sonnet
The Daily Sonnet
Lots of Sonnets
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
spain again
While your'e about it
Viva l'difference
Fire News Blog
Cities dying of thirst.
It's called irony.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
I agree, we don't need rules and regulations everywhere we turn - but at times we are presented with problems, which should be fixed. Sure, maybe if ALL fasion shows had this restriction we'd have an issue... but point is, we're seeing the consequences this kind of ideology of thin = beauty has, and it's not good at all.
Comment by spain01
Juan Carlos
spain again
While your'e about it
Viva l'difference
Fire News Blog
Cities dying of thirst.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum
Comment by Anonymous
the modelling agencies of our world need to be more caring and nurturing of their models health is a key issue in everyone's life! well it should be anyway.
Comment by Anonymous