Models that are too skinny to be healthy are being banned from next week's prestigious fashion show in Spain. Being too skinny to qualify for this show is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.The government in Madrid has decided to take the lead in breaking the dangerous cycle of excessively skinny models being role models for young girls who then go on to starve themselves and endanger their health.
About a third of the models who took part in this fashion show last year were rejected this year because their BMI was less than 18.
As an example, if a model is 5'9", she would be banned from working at this show if she weighed less than 122 pounds.
The fashion show organizers say they want to "help ensure public opinion does not associate fashion, and fashion shows in particular, with an increase in anorexia, a disease which, along with bulimia, is considered ... as a mental and behavioral problem".
