Imagine that: Fashion Industry Influencing Models Towards Eating Disorders
An article from The Independent, Fashion for size zero fuels rise in eating disorders among models, caused me to swear aloud last night. I mean, is this a surprise? Is it even news? Why is valuable press time being wasted on it when everyone could see that coming?!
The premise is that the drive for size 0 in the fashion world is making more models turn to eating disorders. Experts provided results of a study ultimately commissioned by the British Fashion Council, warning that there is truly little way to measure the prevalence of eating disorders amongst models because though anorexia is most prominent, there is a huge population with hidden disorders such as bulimia. One such expert estimates that nearly 40% of models are engaged in disordered eating habits.
This study came in part as a result of Madrid’s Fashion Week banning models with a BMI lower than 18 from working during the highly publicized event. The ban brought outrage from fashion pros, models and some media; women elsewhere rejoiced, especially given the then recent anorexia-related deaths of Eliana & Luisel Ramos.
In a proactive approach to both end confusion over dress sizes and avoid the “Size Zero” movement, the European Union is planning a continent-wide change in dress sizing - from a number such as 0-16 (which could really mean anything) to bust, waist and hip measurements. This, in my opinion, will clear up a bit of confusion since we’ve all gone into five different stores, only to be 3 different sizes - but I don’t see how this will have a major overall effect on the underlying competition women feel to wear a lower size than their peers. It’s really just changing the type of number, not the meaning of it.
Would you feel more confident wearing a 42″ hips pair of trousers, versus a size 14? Especially when your best friend wore a 36″ hip?
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October 7th, 2007 at 2:21 am
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November 27th, 2007 at 1:09 am
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