Why banning super-skinny models won’t curb eating disorders

11th May 2007

Why banning super-skinny models won’t curb eating disorders

posted in Eating Disorders, Pop Culture |

Madrid’s move to ban overly-skinny models from its catwalks received world-wide applause last September, inspiring Italy to follow suit, with Paris and London fashion bigwigs at least discussing the issue. Other organizations are now calling for the U.S. and Australia to ban waif-like models who present an unhealthy body image.

The drumbeat for healthier body image portrayals grew even louder last year when former supermodel Tyra Banks, who now weighs 160 pounds, appeared on her talk show and on the cover of People in a bathing suit, railing against the super-thin standards she herself upheld in her former career.

With curves rivaling Marilyn Monroe, readers of Glamour voted actress Scarlett Johansson with the sexiest body last year, and actress Kate Winslet, lauded for her refusal to lose weight to conform to an unhealthy ideal, has since become Hollywood’s celebrated new poster girl.

So, where am I going with this? It seems as if the pressure to ban the current breed of size-double zero supermodels is finally catching on. For the record, a BMI of 20-25 for a woman is normal. Below 17.5, which describes most fashion models, is symptomatic of anorexia.

The latest to come on board: the Anglo-Dutch consumer product group Unilever, which makes Lipton teas and Skippy peanut butter, as well as Dove and SlimFast products.

“Unilever has adopted a new global guideline that will require that all its future marketing communications should not use models or actors that are either excessively slim or promote ‘unhealthy’ slimness,” Ralph Kugler, president of Unilever’s home and personal care division, said on Tuesday.

The company said it will not impose strict criteria for models and actors, but all brand directors and agencies would be expected to use a BMI of between 18.5 and 25 as a guideline.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Unilever is truly concerned about the image of health it’s brands projects, or is merely conforming to manipulative marketing tactics.

All these moves by fashion shows and corporations mark a positive step forward, but speaking as a recovering anorectic/bulimic who never wanted to look like a supermodel or Barbie, I doubt it’ll do much to reduce eating disorders.

Super-skinny models are only the reflection of cultural mores in society. They’re not the cause. Regulating the size of models is only a band-aid, feel-good, superficial approach to addressing more serious public health issues.

Would the ban on super-skinny models have helped me, as my disorder was forming? Doubtful. I never read glossy women’s magazines and my fashion sense bleeps so far under the radar, it’s catatonic.

Girls who emulate models on the catwalk or in advertisements do so out of reasons other than Kate Moss-envy. Many eating disorders fester out of some kind of deep-seated psychological need that isn’t being met. Food becomes means of control to preserve a world that is increasingly becoming out of control. New research also shows many an eating disorder to have biological and organic origins. The sad fact is, there is no one cure for eating disorders.

I’m still for banning super-skinny models, don’t get me wrong. We shouldn’t glorify eating disorders or parade them about as images of beauty. But to address and correct the larger, underlying reasons why women develop eating disorders requires a far greater effort to banning bags-of-bones in the media.

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 11th, 2007 at 7:53 pm and is filed under Eating Disorders, Pop Culture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

1 On May 13th, 2007, Robyn

said:

Hey this site is very cool. I have a similar blog, called Fat Feminism, that analyzes how fat women are portrayed in pop culture and media and I am adding you to my blogroll. I was hoping that maybe you could also take a look at my site and see if you would like to add me as well.

http://www.curvature.wordpress.com

Thanks!

posted on May 13th, 2007 at 3:49 pm

2 On May 13th, 2007, celsou

I agree that anorexia and bulimia aren’t caused by the thin women portrayed in ads, mags, tv,etc.
However, dieting and restricted eating are very often triggered by these images. I first dieted at the age of 11 after seeing a model wearing neon bike shorts (aaah 1992…) and realizing that I looked nothing like that in bike shorts.
This makes me sound shallow but a lot of my friends were doing the same thing, we had pictures of kate moss’ CK one ads on our walls to motivate ourselves:)
I wasn’t anorexic but my relationship with food wasn’t good and still isn’t good. I think it would’ve helped to see healthier models.
Then, maybe I wouldn’t have spent my adolescence thinking that guys could only be attracted to skinny girls.

posted on May 13th, 2007 at 6:12 pm

3 On May 13th, 2007, celsou

I just want to add that though dieting isn’t as serious or dangerous as anorexia and bulimia, it does make life a little less enjoyable. Also, it occupies brain space that could be better used. There, I’m done:)

posted on May 13th, 2007 at 6:19 pm

4 On May 13th, 2007, Two Knives

Great post. I’d like to add that I think it is safe to draw the conclusion that this is a PR tactic on Unilever’s part. Even though their Dove ads proclaim “Real Beauty,” they still a) market Slim-Fast, b) market skin-lightening creme, and 3) share data on teenagers with marketers trying to sell more, more, more to teens and tweens. They’ll do anything to sell soap.

posted on May 13th, 2007 at 10:38 pm

5 On May 14th, 2007, Rachel

Anything to sell soap, that is, except use the same “full-figured” models they use to hawk their anti-cellulite cream. Apparently it’s progressive to use real women to sell a product most commonly associated with fat, but still taboo to use said models to use a product everyone uses.

And right on Celsou. There’s so much better things to do with our time than worry about calories. I think if women put as much effort into community service or politics as they do wondering about the size of their ass, the world would be a much better place.

posted on May 14th, 2007 at 2:13 am

6 On May 17th, 2007, PastaQueen

I feel the same way about banning junk food in schools. I think it’s a good thing to do, but I hope no one thinks it’s going to end childhood obesity. I have no problem with banning skinny models, but it’s not going to put an end to eating disorders.

posted on May 17th, 2007 at 8:42 pm

7 On November 28th, 2007, Meg

They don’t actually care whether it helps curb eating disorders; it’s good press and that’s what matters to them. Unilever and Dove are so full of crap it makes me sick. Campaign for real beauty my foot.

posted on November 28th, 2007 at 1:34 am

8 On May 21st, 2008, Reiki

The entire American culture is consumed with phsyical appearance and weight. While I agree that overall health is the most important thing, I agree with above that images in the media can add to the problem with anorexia and other eating disorders.

posted on May 21st, 2008 at 10:34 pm