Milan Bans Thin Models

Milan bans thin models as part of a new code of conduct for its catwalks. Super skinny models will be banned from fashion shows in the fashion capital of Italy, in February 2007.

Following in the footsteps of Madrid, which banned extremely thin models from appearing in Madrid fashion week back in September, the Italian government has asked fashion designers to follow a code of conduct in a bid to tackle the growing number of eating disorders among Italian women.

Body Mass Index (BMI) will be used to determine if models are too thin to participate in Milan's fashion shows, with a BMI of less than 18.5 ruling them out.

(BMI is a calculation based on height and weight, with less than 18.5 being considered generally underweight and unhealthy.)

In addition to the BMI calculation, models will also have to carry a medical certificate to prove they are healthy.

There will be a ban on 'anorexic' makeup (shadows under the eyes) and postures (hunched shoulders).

The above measures will be put in place in an effort to stop portraying extreme thinness as the image of perfection, which many people believe encourages eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

They will serve to help protect impressionable young women who try to emulate models that are very thin, and to reduce the number of models who go to extreme lengths such as self-starvation in pursuit of success.

The code of conduct hopes to promote the message that healthy is beautiful, rather than thin is beautiful.

It is estimated that around 5% of Italians suffer from eating disorders.