So France has just banned models with a BMI under 18. Shouldn't they ban models with a BMI over 25 as well?

[Ilona96]

Both are equally unhealthy body images to aspire to. In the UK 64% of adults are classed as overweight or obese. Only 2.5% of people in the UK have an eating disorder (official statistics, obviously underestimated) but only 10-20% of them have anorexia.
I know exactly from personal experience how awful and devastating anorexia can be, but I do not understand why the fashion industry are ignoring the blatant problem we have with overweight people. There is now a plus size range for children in Marks&Spencers and I think that is completely unacceptable.

[nalaa]

well BMI on the upper end is a bit more complicated because infamously muscle weighs more than fat. And before someone brings it up, no it doesn't work the other way around. If you're very muscular and under 18, you're more so underweight. If you not muscular and under 18 then you're still underweight

Now if they were to ban models with a BMI over 25 that would have almost no affect on the fashion industry at all. Plus size models are rare compared to standard models. Very rare and a good amount of them aren't even overweight. Ashley Graham for example has a BMI of exactly 25. Roby Lawly is at roughly 21

Now on the other hand underweight models are far more present. Alessandra Ambrosia (17.5), Doutzen Kroes (17), Miranda Kerr (17.5), Gisele Bundchen (17.5), Carmen Kass (16), Rosie Huntigton (17.5), Karlie Kloss (16.7) ... You get the idea
I know you're asking a question about principles, but sometimes in real life you have to be practically

Secondly plus size clothing lines for children are not the problem. They're a symptom of a problem but not the problem. Complaining about them is insane

[aamy811]

They probably started with underweight models because they're at the forefront. If they had to choose between changing maybe five pages of a magazine or 20 they'll take the twenty. So it's mainly because thin women are what is primarily used in the fashion industry
And even though more people are overweight most girls aren't striving to be overweight. I've rarely met girls who absolutely gorge themselves to gain weight and get belly fat. But I know a lot of girls who would eat an apple at lunch so they could be really skinny.

[evenlift]

They shouldn't be banning any models.

But, yes, if they were being sincere, then they would, wouldn't they?

What people find difficult to understand is that many people who claim they want to help this or that 'disadvantaged' group aren't actually motivated by a desire to improve the less good but, rather, by a hatred of the good.

So, the 'fat-acceptance' movement is driven by a hatred of fit people. The environmental movement is driven by hatred of humans. The third-world movement is driven by a hatred of the first world. Etc. That's not to say that there aren't some sincere people in these movements. And it's not to say that people who are driven by hatred of the good for being the good are fully conscious of this hatred of all the time. But, that is the driving motivation.

So, the banning of underweight models (and a BMI of 18 is only slightly underweight anyway, and many models with this BMI may be healthy, BMI being a flawed measure) is a proxy attack on fit people, which is why overweight or obese models aren't being banned.

[Illusive_Man]

It's more a sort of social engineering thing.

Here we have an industry that has established itself as the beauty definers of the society. The general population believes that the people who are models are beautiful.

Here we have the leaders of the industry inclining towards hiring people who are anorexic.

People in the society start adhering to the standard of beauty set by those in power.

It starts an unhealthy trend.

Interest groups pressure the government into doing something.

We live in a democracy.

Government responds to the demands by the special interest groups.

Models with a BMI under 18 is banned.

It's just the swing of the pendulum from one extreme to the other.

[Justiphi]

Obesity is not nearly as urgent medically as eating disorders. To ban plus sized models is not very fair to plus sized consumers. They should be able to see the clothes they'll be buying on models their own size.
On the other hand I doubt that anorexia and bulimia are directly related to the fashion industry. Aren't they the result of an underlying psychiatric disorder? If so, then banning the models is an empty gesture.

[Outofthegrey]

Seems fair to me. If you're going to say being too skinny means you can't be a model, being too fat should be a cut off too. Otherwise it just sounds like a bunch of overweight people threw a tantrum.

[Miphee]

People should have the right to choose what they want to look like. If they want to work for an agency that requires them to be <18 BMI then it is their choice. If they want to be over 25 it's their decision. Banning is never the answer, at least not in a free country.

[ivanka]

sure it is unhealthy.. the tragedy is that obesity rate in kids is increasing and people pretend its cute to be chubby in kids.. no way... its getting a serious problem..
my BMI is 18.. i feel good, secure and pretty... no wway i look skinny

[dogbert777]

I agree with your sentiments. However, I would up the BMI to 30. I agree that clothes should not be made to suit the "expanding" population. There are very few excuses for having a BMI over 30. People simply eat too much and the wrong things.

[jirush]

Absolutely YES! Being badly over weight/obese is the second highest preventable cause of death in the U. S., and it is projected to exceed smoking very shortly.

[RationalLioness]

I don't think there's a need due to the fact that they won't take women with any type of unhealthy weight. The buxom models are simply bigger, not overweight.

[NateInAk]

It's all very big brother-y in general.
If they were sincere about not wanting the modeling agencies to present unhealthy body images as desirable, then yes, they would do so.

[ha-lee]

They sort of have banned models with a higher bmi. They have regulated their food industry and its portion sizing.

[Jersey1]

Ban everything... Ban ban ban. You must be an "open minded" Liberal who knows what is best for everyone.

[genericname85]

25 is exaggerated... i have a bmi of over 25, because i´m built. that´s not unhealthy.

[Ilona96]

The 25 was more to make the point that I believe our models should be healthy role models, not super skinny or plus size

[genericname85]

i think you´re right... but a lot of what is refered to as "plus size" is actually healty too. yeah but we shouldn´t promote unhealty over or underweight.

[Anonymous]

is bmi though enough to determine if the girl is unhealthy and on the verge of anorexia? i dont think its such a reliable measurement... .

[BleachedBurgundy]

What does under 18 bmi look like?

[Anonymous]

Yeah they should.