U.S. Designers Down On Super-Thin Models?

(CBS)  There's nothing average about the average fashion model. A lot more women wear a size 12 than a size 2.

Many models go to extremes to get and stay skinny. And many female consumers, particularly teens, do the same as they try to look like the women on the catwalks.

Now, reports The Early Show national correspondent Tracy Smith, with the big New York Fashion Week coming up, designers in the United States are expected to suggest steps to discourage models who are too thin.

Smith points out that in an industry where trends change quickly, thin has been "in" for decades. But for many models, it's hardly the perfect fit.

Model Christine Alt told Smith, "I remember, one time, going about 10 days without eating."

Alt used to try to squeeze herself into smaller sizes.

"The industry," she says, "makes you be a certain way and fit into a certain mold that not all women can fit into. It's an unobtainable stereotype."

In September, attitudes began to shift. Organizers of Madrid's Fashion Week banned models who didn't have a body mass index — a measure of body fat based on height and weight — above 18, meaning Kate Moss wouldn't make the cut and Giselle probably wouldn't, either.

Nutritionists such as Health magazine contributor Samantha Heller applauded the move.

"To be as thin as many of these women and girls are," Heller told Smith, "they really have to restrict their calories a lot and it is not a natural or a healthy thing to do."

Some, though, thought the underweight ban was overblown.

Fashion show producer Kelly Cutrone says, "Clothes look better on younger, thinner, taller people. It's very simple."

In November, an 88-pound Brazilian model died of anorexia.

Milan, Italy, announced in December a ban of ultra-thin models in shows there. And speculation began to grow over whether American designers would follow suit when Fashion Week starts in New York next month.

Smith says it appears there won't be an outright ban, "but designers will be outfitted with some guidelines."

This week, the Council of Fashion Designers of America is expected to recommend that designers schedule photo shoots during daylight hours so models can get more sleep, provide healthier backstage catering, and identify models with eating disorders

Heller is shooting the ideas down even before they're formally approved, saying: "I think these are completely ridiculous. Models getting more sleep is a great idea, but if they're anorexic, they're not going to eat healthier food at the service table, anyway. And who is going to be the one identifying the people who having eating disorders? You need specialists and experts to do that."

Still, concludes Smith, in a business some say is starving for reform, many see the likely moves as a step forward, perhaps even a trend that will last.

Others contend we won't see the end of super-thin models until consumers demand it.

[ecuadoriana]

I think Hermit22 is on to something! But I'd take it one stepfurther- the fashion industry could adopt starving africans, bring them over here to the US & give them jobs in the modeling industry!

Americans are appalled & saddened by the images of starving africans, with their hollow, lifeless eyes, protruding ribs & distended bowels, yet at the same time they applaud & welcome the look if it is draped in $10,000 designer clothes. Adopted african models wouldn't need to be fed, since they are used to going 10 days, & more, without food. They'd get paid a hefty salary, free clothing & make up, & not have to waste their money on groceries or dining out. The African models could then donate their surplus salary to hunger causes. Maybe better, they could adopt their very own starving child & continue to support the fashion industry by guaranteeing jobs for everyone!

Of course, anti-immigrant americas would fight this proposal by proclaiming "These starving africans are coming here & taking jobs away from our own starving models! American models are now having to eat, some for the first time in years, stop taking laxatives & diet pills, go out & get jobs in factories, retail stores, construction, landscaping, house cleaning, child care, farming,...That would be unacceptable!"

[lonestartnow]

Health and wellness are not about "it's nice to be thin." So what if clothes look better on "younger, thinner and taller people?" That's not the real world, and has nothing to do with health. Clothes look good on normal weight people as well, and perhaps if the fashion industry acknowleged this, and used normal weight models, we wouldn't have some of the "body image" problems and associated diseases, and perhaps those who are overweight or obese wouldn't be so discouraged as to give up on achieving what is an unrealistic body image to begin with.

[ws011]

The Body Mass Index is garbage. It doesn't take into account the fact that some people have small bones (or large bones) compared to the averege and therefore need less (or more) muscle and fat to be healthy at a given height.

It also uses the square of height where it would have to use the cube of height to provide anything even remotely resembling a valid measurement. In any case, you can't describe three-dimensional objects very well with just one number!

Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen look healthy, while many of those who are overweight do not.

[hermit22]

Obviously the fashion folks should hire the HUNGRY homeless to be models for the year, pay them decent wages, fatten 'em up and get them going on other jobs, then go out and recruit some more HUNGRY and homeless for the next fashion stint.

Models are thin so the clothes get noticed, not the body size. There is so much OBESITY in America. Obesity is the national embarrassment! THAT is much more of a problem than "thin".

[pkmr-2009]

These ultra thin models have no shape. they are like yard-sticks. In fact, they look like my 12 year old SON!! Does anyone realize that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14!

[raven1949-2009]

Yesterday I saw a large white dog so thin its ribs were showing. I didn't think "here is a beautiful, lithe and graceful" animal. I was alarmed and thought it needed help. Models, who are naturally strikingly beautiful should be able to be healthy too.

[ecuadoriana]

Men who find these bone-thin, pre-pubescent, little girl-women attractive must be pedophiles. No normal thinking man would be attracted to this look. Real men find real women attractive- especially if she is confident in herself.

When I watch these models strutting I can't help thinking how much they look like ponies, the way they pick up & kick out their feet. Do they do that because they have no muscle on their hips to fully control their step? They look ridiculous.

If you're a woman or girl who thinks you should emulate this "walking corpse" look because someone once said they think you are fat, then you need to start thinking for yourself & stop letting others dictate to you who you are.

Find a Latino man- they LOVE a women with a nice healthy set of hips & b*tt cheecks! More to grab onto for the lovin'! A man can't make love to a corpse & if he wants to then he's got some sick issues & you should run!

[hober_mallow]

I think the skinny models look good, but not the anorexic ones.

I think that strong, healthy-looking women are absolutely stunning.

And I know of a few women who are pretty much chunky-looking and they look good too.

[raleighld]

I'm still trying to make sense of the following:

Vogue Jan. 2007
The Science of Looking good
50 Life changing moments - The beauty, health and fitness innovations that helped to shape the modern world

1950 - Twenty-four inches is the waist measurement of a SIZE 10/12 DRESS

2006 - Twenty-four inches is the waist measurement of a SIZE 2/4 DRESS

I'm 5'7", 130 Lbs. and depending SOLELY on the manufacturer, I wear anything from a size 6 to a size 12. My shoe size ranges from a 10 to an 11, again, depending on the manufacturer. Until I find I consistently buy a particular size, I don't COMMIT to a size. I try on clothes, and what I like is what I buy, regardless of the size tag.

[sy2502]

And the only way that consumers can demand it is simply to not buy the clothes that the ultra-thin models wear.

The average women can't afford to buy those clothes, so they can't make a difference on that respect. But when they put those same models on magazines, we can choose not to buy the magazine.