Newswise — The Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), a global professional association committed to leadership in eating disorders research, education, treatment and prevention, expresses support for members of the fashion industry who have recently expressed opposition to practices that promote idealization of an unhealthy thin beauty ideal through the use of underweight models. At the same time, the AED decries the ongoing toxic messages the fashion industry sends to girls and women, boys and men around the world.
In the past few weeks there have been several wonderful examples of fashion industry professionals doing the right thing. Matan Uziel, Verbmodel's senior booker, Mark Fast, London fashion designer, Quebec’s fashion industry and German fashion magazine Brigitte have all taken a stand against using emaciated models.
This same week, it was announced that Ralph Lauren fired model Filippa Hamilton in April for being “too fat” though her weight was quoted as being in the anorexic range. The brand then published an altered image of her that made her look freakishly thin. Also this week, news emerged that Ralph Laruen had also posted ads in Australia of model Valentina Zelyaeva, the images again altered to portray her as impossibly thin. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has also made public statements insulting the public for decrying the use of emaciated models.
“We will no longer tolerate behavior by fashion industry heads that leads to body dissatisfaction, illness and even death,” said AED President Susan Paxton, Ph.D.
It is the Academy’s hope that more members of the fashion industry will follow the examples below:
On October 11, Verbmodel's senior booker & Israeli entrepreneur Matan Uziel, founder of the advertising corporation Warmhome Media Group, announced at a press conference that he will not involve any models that are deemed too slim in his future marketing communications.
"Warmhome Media Group & Verbmodels have both adopted a new global guideline that will require that all their future communications should not use models or actors that are either excessively slim or promote 'unhealthy' slimness", said Uziel on Sunday. He explains his decision thus: "The media's obsession with painfully thin fashion models has contributed to the growth in eating disorders among young girls and this should come under the international ethical spotlight after several anorexic models died in the last couple of years. Women's magazines should be 'attacked and accused' of promoting unrealistic body images of exceptionally thin models inspiring others to be exactly the same." In addition to changing practices in his own organization, Uziel plans to bring together influential people in the media and fashion worlds who could "begin to challenge some of the assumptions that the only way to be beautiful is to be thin".
Quebec's fashion industry has agreed to regulate itself to promote a healthier image of women, the province's culture minister said October 16.
Christine St-Pierre used the backdrop of Montreal Fashion Week to launch a voluntary charter to help fight extreme thinness in the fashion industry.
The charter was drawn up by a working group created in March including representatives from the fashion and advertising industries, as well as health-care professionals.
The working group was co-chaired by television journalist Esther Bégin and Dr. Howard Steiger, director of the eating disorders program at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute and AED fellow.
Also, Germany's most popular women's magazine Brigitte announced on October 12 that it is banning professional models from its pages in favor of "real women" in an attempt to combat an unhealthy standard of rail-thin beauty that it says has isolated its readers.
The editor-in-chief of Germany's bimonthly Brigitte told reporters that, starting next year, the magazine will feature a mix of prominent women and regular readers in photo spreads for everything from beauty to fashion to fitness."We will show women who have an identity – the 18-year-old student, the head of the board, the musician, the football player," Andreas Lebert said.
In late September, at London Fashion Week, Canadian designer Mark Fast used ladies U.S. size 8-10 on the catwalk. Some members of his staff resigned in protest, but Fast was glad he stuck to his vision. The knitwear designer wanted women to know they didn’t have to wear a size zero to wear a Mark Fast dress.
“Curvier women can look even better in them,” said his creative director Amanda May, according to the New York Daily News.
The unnaturally thin models portrayed in the fashion industry contributes to diet and research shows that about 8 percent of those who diet progress to full-syndrome eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is a leading killer of females between 15 and 24 years old. This information highlights the urgent need for influential member of our society to recognize the complex interactions between media images, dieting and the evolution of life threatening eating disorders.
“AED applauds the efforts of these industry leaders to promote healthier images of women enjoying fashion and a broader definition of beauty,” said Susan Paxton, AED president.
The Academy for Eating Disorders is a trans-disciplinary professional organization with more than 1,400 members worldwide. AED provides education, training and a forum for collaboration and professional dialogue. Visit www.aedweb.org for more information.
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