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Israel bans too-skinny models
Enforced weight standards for models are the first in the world.
Wed, Mar 21 2012 at 2:30 PM
 7
A blonde, plus-sized model wearing a sleeveless dress.

Photo: Fiorello Rubino/Flickr

It's a confusing world. While the average woman in the United States is a size 14, that is also the place where plus-sized clothing starts (generally, size 14 and up). But a plus-sized model is usually around a size 8 or so (the woman in the image above, for example is a plus model), while "straight-sized" models are size 0-2. Got that? Basically it breaks down to most women seeing models who are dramatically smaller than they are — whether they are plus-sized or not. The only group, in fact, who can look at a model wearing clothes and see anything close to what they might look like in said clothes are those who are 0-2.
 
Anyway, numerous studies have shown that these images of women make the real women who are looking at them feel crummy about themselves, and can lead to eating disorders (including a very recent one from the London School of Economics). For us non-economists, his connection is crystal clear if you've ever gone to Thinspiration boards or sites online (these are collections of images women who are either bulimic or anorexic use to "inspire" them, and let's just say there's quite a bit of artful, sexy bones jutting underneath taut skin, and plenty of hollow cheekbones). 
 
A number of countries have looked at the issue and encouraged the fashion industry to police itself, which not surprisingly, has led to little change. The U.K.'s Advertising Standards approached the issue as a truth-in-advertising one, wherein too-young or overly Photoshopped models aren't allowed. Madrid Fashion Week banned models with a BMI of lower than 18 in 2008, and the issue has been talked about for years. 
 
But Israel's new rules have defined parameters and specific guidelines that will be enforced, which has never been done before. 
 
According to Jezebel, "This particular law mandates that models working in Israel prove that they are not malnourished, by producing medical records. (The country will use World Health Organization standards, wherein a body-mass index or BMI below 18.5 is indicative of malnutrition.) In addition, any advertisement published for the Israeli market must include a disclosure line if the model was digitally altered to look thinner."
 
For comparison/information, that 18.5 BMI equates to a 5'10'' woman (average model height) with a weight of 128 or a 5'4" woman (the average height of an American woman) with a weight of 108 pounds. 
 
Do you think this is a step in a positive direction? 

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comments: 7
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anonymous
Donna Kruft Mar 23 2012 at 7:15 AM
Yeah Israel!!It's about time some is doing the right thing as far as the modeling world is concerned. According to the article, the average size if an American is a size 14. How can a women relate to all these bone skinned models? It's one thing to be naturally small boned,HEALTHY and thin. But some of these young girls trying to be or are modeling will stave them selves to get a job.It is deplorable and must be stopped.This is not what we want our daughters to think is ok, they need to learn and
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understand to be happy and accepting of who they are no matter what size they are!!
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anonymous
Michael M Mar 22 2012 at 4:00 PM

Here's a word from a naturally thin person:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzSyRFiKik0

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anonymous
mf3 Mar 22 2012 at 10:28 AM

Clearly the author believes this is a positive step - the snarky comments about "real women" and jutting bones... and original to boot.

Well, an under-18.5 BMI can also be indicative of chronic illness. *waves* Hi. Sorry I'm not invisible and you have to be disgusted by my bodies.

Shaming thin women is not exactly progressive, is it?

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svartan's picture
Starre Vartan Mar 22 2012 at 10:52 PM
I use 'real women' here not to indicate that only non-thin women are real - but real in that they are actual people looking at images of women who are often underage (and therefore not quite women) or Photoshopped (not real). Many slim or thin women also look at the altered model images and also feel badly about themselves, as even they do not usually look like the 'perfect' images shown. All women, of whatever size, are obviously 'real' and I actually wrote an editorial about it here: http://www.
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huffingtonpost.com/starre-vartan/on-objecting-to-plus-size_b_... My comments were definitely NOT snarky in any way, and I do not participate in looking down upon women of any size and as you can tell from reading what I wrote above, have a huge problem with the 'real women' label. Naturally slim/thin women are, of course, real. Regarding the "jutting bones" - if you go to Thinspiration boards, you will see that they are all about that visual - to the extent that naturally slim women would have to basically contort themselves to get the extreme stretching of skin over bones that is shown - and some of this is even altered to be more extreme in Photoshop. This is NOT snark, this is what goes on, in some cases to sell a product, in others as "Thinspiration." Both are problematic. Naturally healthy bodies of all size should be shown, admired, celebrated.
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anonymous
Guest Mar 22 2012 at 3:33 PM
who's comments are you referring to, I didn't see anywhere the author used the phrase "real women" he did say most women. As a woman who's been way under weight with jutting bones, I actually found most of this article non offensive. I just wonder if it is really the way to deal with the issue. The media makes women feel bad. So we'll sensor it. What will be next young models make old women feel bad? Perhaps it is ok to demand a broader range of models, but it just seems weird to decide to sensor
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it.
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joro
joro Mar 21 2012 at 8:31 PM

Time someone did.

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deidreamberelliott
deidreamberelliott Mar 21 2012 at 8:14 PM

I don't entirely agree with this. I am glad to see that the modeling industry in some places are against eating disorders and are open to bigger sizes... However, this stops people like me from modeling. Girls who naturally have a fast metabolism and can't gain weight.

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