Madrid bans waifs from catwalks

[KD]

Snipped from the BBC website here

Madrid fashion week, one of Spain's most prestigious shows, is banning underweight models on the basis of their body mass index (BMI). UN health experts recommend a BMI of between 18.5 and about 25, and some models may fall well below the minimum.
The Spanish Association of Fashion Designers has decided to ban models who have a BMI of less than 18.

Unhealthily skinny models at last year's fashion shows led to protests from doctors and women's rights groups.

The association agreed to use the BMI - a calculation based on height and weight - in response to local government pressure.
It suggests that 30% of would-be participants fail this test and this year's fashion week, which begins on 18 September, will offer medical treatment to excessively thin models.
Outrage
"The restrictions could be quite a shock to the fashion world at the beginning but I'm sure it's important as far as health is concerned," Leonor Perez Pita, director of the Madrid fashion show, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.
Madrid's local government says it wants to set a more positive, healthy image of beauty for teenagers to follow.

You cannot ban skinny women in the same way you cannot ban fuller bodied women

 

[Russiandoll]

This surely must be a positive thing for all concerned: for the models who starve themselves in order to maintain a ridiculously thin body, for the young girls who put themselves in danger trying to emulate them and for the fashion industry itself which, for a long time now has been accused of condoning (nay, ENCOURAGING) this to happen.

Three cheers for Madrid! Let's hope it catches on.

 

[Mini]

You cannot ban skinny women in the same way you cannot ban fuller bodied women

I am not sure I understand the above quote as to my knowledge I have not seen an extremely obese woman on a catwalk?

 

[Isobel1965]

Well said, Mins - I was going to say the same thing!

Obese women are excluded from virtually every form of entertainment, erm...boardroom, laboratory, erm.....loads of places!!!! (How articulate am I? lol)

I applaud any effort to steer our society back into sanity!!

 

[Isobel1965]

OOH does that mean Posh won't be able to live there any more?? hahahahahah!

 

[KD]

LOL Isobel

I said to DH "Madrid has banned super skinny women". He said that was a bit drastic

Of course, I meant from the catwalks....why can't men read my mind!

 

[Isobel1965]

cos they don't do joined-up thinking

(with the exception of course of all the lovely men on here - gulp!)

 

[DQ]

LOL Isobel

I said to DH "Madrid has banned super skinny women". He said that was a bit drastic

Of course, I meant from the catwalks....why can't men read my mind!

ROFPMSL!!!!!

 

[Summerskye]

What a great move by Spanish fashion designers - although I think even an 18 BMI is a bit on the low side and gives an unrealistic image to young (and not so young) girls of what is considered a desirable 'beautiful' body .. but at least it's a definite move in the right direction!

 

[Wobbly]

Great move - should become a norm for the fashion industry if you ask me!

If I was a BMI 18, I would be 7 stone or something, as I'm such a short bum. Agree with summerskye - prob a bit to low!

 

[chicken on a mission]

I was shocked to read this article but in a good way, I never would have thought it posible although 18.5 would have been better after all that IS the accepted healthy range