[excerpt] The American fashion industry says it wants models to be healthy, not anorexic, bulimic or chain-smokers. And to help them achieve that, the Council of Fashion Designers of America has released a list of recommendations as part of a new health initiative.
The guidelines were issued Friday, three weeks before designers start showcasing their fall collections during New York Fashion Week, which starts Feb. 2. The guidelines, which are suggestions and not binding, include:
# Keep models under 16 off the runway and don't allow models under 18 to work at fittings or photo shoots past midnight.
# Educate those in the industry to identify the early warning signs of eating disorders.
# Require models identified as having an eating disorder to receive professional help and only allow those models to continue with approval from that professional.
# Develop workshops on the causes and effects of eating disorders, and raise awareness of the effects of smoking and tobacco-related disease.
# During fashion shows, provide healthy meals and snacks, while prohibiting smoking and alcohol.
What's missing _ aside from a means of enforcement _ is any mention of the Body Mass Index. In September, Madrid Fashion Week banned models with a body mass index of less than 18. The standard accepted by the World Health Organization is that anyone with an index under 18.5 is underweight.
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