Madrid fashion week bans catwlak models with BMI below 18, London fashion week will NOT be following.......

[Northerner]

here

Personally I think we should. How can any woman with a BMI below 18 be healthy?

Discuss.

[HuwEdwards]

agree, otherwise it's just self-propagating - if those 'models' get any publicity, good or bad, that seems to be suficient incentive to stay emaciated.

[NomDePlume]

BMI is crappola though. I used to have a BMI of 18 and certainly did NOT look anorexic or starved. If you are naturally very tall and slender (not saying all models are completely naturally slender) then BMI doesn't work.

[Northerner]

But you have to have some sort of yard stick though NDP, and I can't think of another can you?

[NomDePlume]

Body fat percentage ? I dunno, but there has to be a better/more accurately measured way than BMI.

[SaintGeorge]

My BMI is 16.5 and I am (generally) healthy.

I think I should be heavier but my metabolism apparently disagrees because it is practically impossible for me to put weight on.

[Northerner]

Just calculated my BMI and I'm 21.

Surely a bmi of 16 make syou extremely thin? I agree that some models will ahve a high metabolism, helathy lifestyle, but most will not.

[SaintGeorge]

I am a size 8, sometimes a 6 depending on brand (and if a 6 is available!)

Some of my jeans are even (shock, horror) a size 10.

BMI is a load of crap.

[Mascaraohara]

agree BMI is not great but personally I think any method of trying to make more 'normal' sized women accetable by the media and the fashion industry has to be a good thing...

... I think it's probably fair to say the a lot of the super models around have an unhealthy way of staying thin.

[ruty]

but alot of models do starve themselves to the point of not menstruating and losing all their bone density, not to mention putting their hearts under stress. And they are rewarded with more and better work. There are women who are naturally thin like St George but there are an awful lot more IMO who starve themselves into misery. I know i am biased because i have had anorexia, but something has to be done about the images of underweight women in fashion - it is very dangerous, and i think, mysogynistic.

[calebsmum]

I think alot of this is following the death of a model a few weeks ago, she was only 21 and died of heart failure due to only eating green leaves and diet coke for 4 months. Think her BMI was 13/14. Personally I think it's a good idea and it's a shame London isn't following suit.

[Jazzi]

Sorry just need to interupt quickly...

Oh Ruty you are here, I have tried to contact you, are you still up for going out in Abingdon.

[ruty]

Hi Jazzi yes i am! I didn't get your CAT tho, I wonder if it's not working or something. are you able to receive CATS now?

[Jazzi]

Ruty, think I have done it now.

[Mum2Ela]

BMI of 18? Mine is 19 atm and I am no where near being stick model material, at a healthy 9st (and perhaps a couple of pounds after the weekend!).

Am v v healthy too.

[joelallie]

I agree that BMI isn't that good as an indicator of skinniness - waist to height ratio is better. But it's besides the point - we've all seen catwalk models that look like elegant walking skeletons - it doesn't take a number to tell us they aren't a normal healthy weight

[ruty]

i have no idea what my BMI is actually so don't know how accurate it is - perhaps they should think of another way of checking.

Jazzi - i'll check my emails.