French sign charter for model health

INTERNATIONAL: The French fashion industry has weighed in to the debate about the health of fashion models by introducing the world's first charter on the issue.

On April 10 the French fashion industry signed a charter to promote healthy body images in magazine advertising and on the catwalks of Paris.

After more than a year of talks, officials from fashion houses, advertising firms and media outlets joined French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot to seal the voluntary charter.

The document comprised guidelines but did not impose limits, as Spain did in setting a minimum body mass index of 18 for catwalk models - in other words a minimum weight of 56 kilos for a height of 1.75 metres.

Signatories did however commit to avoid using "images of people, in particular youth, that could contribute to promoting a model of extreme thinness."

The measures were drafted by a working group set up in January 2007 by the health ministry following recent outcry over the health implications of the prevalent standard of skinny physiques for models.

In November 2006, Brazilian model Ana Carolina Reston died at the age of 21 from anorexia related causes, while Uruguayan model Luisel Ramos died of heart failure in August the same year.

In Italy, an anti-anorexia charter signed in February 2007 seeks to promote healthy beauty and bans girls under 16 from catwalks.

Models on Italian catwalks must present health certificates showing that they do not suffer from eating disorders.

Under new measures adopted in Britain, models suffering from anorexia or bulimia will have to present a certificate showing that they are being treated for the disorder and that it is under control before taking part in British Fashion Week in London in September.

In Australia the Australian Fashion Council has yet to release its own guidelines, having established an industry forum last March.