The French legislature just banned the use of ultra-skinny models in fashion shoots and on runways.
Women with a BMI of 18 or under are banned from modeling, and models will be required to carry medical certificates proving they're above the limit.
The new law says that sites "encouraging eating restrictions for a prolonged period of time, resulting in risk of mortality or damage to health" may face up to a year in prison and fines of up to €100,000.
Israel has a similar ban, while Spain and Italy have issued "voluntary codes of conduct."
The ban aims to discourage anorexia in the fashion industry, but critics say it's oversimplistic.
“It’s important that the models are healthy, but it’s a little simplistic to think there won’t be any more anorexics if we get rid of very thin models,” said Isabelle Saint-Felix of the French National Union of Modeling Agencies.
“When you look at the criteria behind anorexia, you can’t look only at the body mass index when other criteria are also involved: psychological, a history of hair loss, dental problems,” she continued.
And a "healthy" BMI doesn't necessarily mean you're not suffering from eating disorders.
