The modelling industry has long been under pressure for unrealistic images. A law in France banning the hiring of ultra-thin models has come into effect. Models will need to provide a doctor's certificate attesting to their overall physical health, with special regard to their body mass index (BMI) – a measure of weight in relation to height. Images where a model’s appearance has been altered using photo editing software also have to be labeled as a ‘retouched photograph’.

For years the fashion industry’s use of stick-thin models has sparked a heated debate. Critics say the practice encourages an unhealthy body image and eating disorders, while some in the fashion world argue clothes hang better on tall, skinny women. You may have heard some of the fashion industry horror stories: models eating tissues or cotton balls to stave off hunger. Models collapsing from malnutritioninduced heart attacks just seconds after they step off the runway.

The French health ministry says the changes in legislation aim to fight eating disorders and inaccessible ideals of beauty. They are worried not just about the models themselves but about the legions of girls and women their image influence.

“Especially girls and teens. Seventy percent of girls ages 10 to 18 report that they define perfect body image based on what they see in magazines. That’s especially worrying, given anorexia results in more deaths than does any other mental illness”, some researchers say.

Major French fashion houses including Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent have said they would stop using underweight models for their catwalk shows worldwide.

Disponível em: <mbbc.com/news/world-europe>. Acesso em: mai. 2021. Adaptado.