That's a great idea! It's sad what people do to themselves in order to be accepted!

That would be perfect!!

Pictures like that one^Are just sickening!

That'd be good. It just gets to the point where you can barely look at them anymore.. something has to be done.

What kind of system are we going by when we classify someone as too underweight to be a model?

I'd say that, going by the classic ideal weight charts (which is usually something like 100lbs at 5' and then 5lbs for every inch over), all models (barring plus size models) would be considered underweight. Hell, according to those charts I'm even a few pounds underweight and I'm definitely not.

i think thats a good idea and some models just take being skinny too far!!

"If the law passes, all the women on modelling agency's books must have a body mass index (BMI) - a height-to-body fat ratio - of at least 19. "

Mine is 20, I guess I could be a model afterall!

No, I don't agree with this. There are definitely models that are too thin and they should be kept out of shows, but someone with a BMI of 19 simply wouldn't look that good on a runway. Fashion designers like thinner women to model because the cloths sor hang off of them and you can see the clothes more clearly.

Brilliant idea! Let the stupid women throw up their last meal WITHOUT the benefit of an approving public.

And of course, men like curves on a woman. proper round curvy, curvy...sorry, was I drooling?

Yes, it's disgusting to see people that thin.

oh please, the only people who care that models are too thin are fat women who "cant be bothered" to exercize or eat right. if someone wants to be that skinny, thats up to them. i dont see any laws saying that people cant weigh OVER a certain amount, even though over 87% of the american population is obese, while 13% are MORBIDLY obese. and you think skinny people are hard to look at? try sitting in a booth next to an entire family of fat people at a buffet restuarant while their 80 lb 4 year old trys to eat his plate.

^^ Good God woman, is that what you think? Sheesh, I think someone needs to take their head out of their a** and take a good look round (meaning no offence of course. Ahem).

"oh please, the only people who care that models are too thin are fat women who "cant be bothered" to exercize or eat right"

Really? Is that right? So, every single person up there on this board... is fat? Every SINGLE one? Wow. Never woulda thunk it.

"87% of the american population is obese, while 13% are MORBIDLY obese"

lol, honey, that's 100%. Sounds good (*snort*) but no one will believe that. Where do the stick thin models come into that? And the skinny teenagers? And the adults and children at an ordinary weight? Do they only fill 0.1 or even 0.01% of the population? Funny, that. I went over on holidays there once… I guess all of the skinny people must have been holidaying there at the same time.

And all of the skinny people must be working as actors and actresses, cuz most American movies only have thin people in them.

And I could continue, but I couldn’t be bothered. I’m fat, apparently, and I “can’t be bothered.”

I don't agree with this... BMIs are rather arbitrary (most nutritionalists will admit that they are to some degree). A lower number would perhaps make more sense, because the set BMI of 19 is just the arbitrary border itself, and a little below it isn't necessarily harmful. My BMI isn't much over 19, and I'm not unhealthy as a result by any means...

As a female who has suffered from anorexia and, thank God, recovered, I can honestly say we really need to alter our perception of what it is to be "beautiful". I think it's a great idea to not focus solely on skinny women since underweight models have proven to be a negative influence on young girls whom are at the most inpressionable and self-conscious times of their lives, however, I don't think we should exclude thin models either. Not all women have curves; some are naturally thin-built. There should be models of ALL TYPES: thin, fat, pear-shaped, muscular, etc., to demonstrate that we are all different yet those variations are what makes us uniquely beautiful.

Interestingly enough, last week we went along to an F1 special event complete with cars and those skimpy models which slide off the paintwork. My husband couldn't believe how stick-like these girls were, how unattractive they looked, how sprayed their hair was or how thick their make-up was. It was the first time he'd been so close to these types of models and was completely un-impressed. However, a few days later, photographs of them appeared in the paper and the girls look spectacular. It's amazing what the camera can do. Even so, he still said they were as shapely as surfboards.

No no, "we" don't need to alter our perception of beauty, women do. Men don't like skinny women. Check out any mainstream cinema for adult viewing magazine if you don't believe me. I gaurantee the women in there getting their kit off will have proper curves and a BMI in excess of 19. The skinny ones who look as if they last ate in the early 90's appear in WOMEN'S magazines. Men aren't interested in the Jodie Kidd's of the world.

^ Damn Right! Say it again, only louder so all the teenage girls can hear you.

I would, but they're usually too wrapped up in the current fad diet to listen to a damn word...

Have a cheeseburger girls, you'll be amazed how good you feel. And if Mars bars make you overweight, stick one up your arse and get the neighbour's rottwieler to chase it.

Saying that all men dislike skinny is a major generalization. Some guys perceive thin as beauty also. I have a couple of guy friends that suffer from eating disorders themselves. One is about 5'6", couldn't weigh more than 110 pounds, and hates to eat. And who do you think a lot of these fashion designers are? Calvin Klein doesn't sounds like a chick's name to me. Men are just as guilty of being weight snobs as women.

^^ does anyone know the conversion of pounds to kilos? Please? I've forgotten.

It's a good idea, but I don't think you can force any change like this.

For breebree http://www.onlineconversion.com/

100 kilogram = 220.4622622 pound

1 kilogram = 2.2046226 pound

Wow. I know I'm short, but I had no idea I'm also underweight.

Being a healthy individual on the wrong side of the required BMI, I'm going to have to disagree. Someone with a body mass index of under 19 isn't necessarily underweight.

What's sad is that we continue to define health by body image. Someone can be naturally very thin, healthy and "underweight".

that picture is gross. someone needs to give her a hamburger

Weight isn't the only thing that needs to be checked--like soul said, body mass index and body fat also need to be taken into consideration.

Of course, if you can see the girl's ribs through her skin, she should be automatically disqualified.