Stick thin models.

[AB Asks]

The recent 'size zero' phenomenon has struck fear into many people. Mothers are worried their daughters will end up anorexic in the quest to be thin, women worry that being emaciated is now beautiful. With London Fashion Week approaching, we can expect to see plenty of models with their over-sized heads and protruding hip bones strutting down the catwalk who are apparently the epiphany of beauty.

What do you think about size zero models? Do they set a bad example to impressionable teenagers? Should they be banned from the catwalk? When did skinny become so enviable?

What do you think about size zero models?

They set a bad example to women
If agencies want size zero models that is their choice
There is not a problem with size zero models or them appearing in magazines, fashion weeks or on television.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, I have just voted on the poll and noticed that according to this, they are setting a bad example to other women. I bet if you split the poll by gender though, the results would be the total opposite of each other.
I would be extremely surprised if any guys had chosen the first option...

[noxlumos]

I'm with Paul on that I really don't know any men who like unnaturally thin women. My wife was a 10-12 and that was perfect because she was curvy and natural. I remember her when she was 17 or so being a 6-8 ish? and that was fine too because that was her natural size.
The issue with anorexia, is that it's a symptom of a feeling of lack of self worth, and you have to look far more broadly than a magazine page to initiate that, you have to look at friends, family, school, life experience etc of the individual.
I think size zero models should not be an issue, they arent relevant and we give this idea of superstar emulation too much credence. I am 99.9% sure that, like Pippa, my daughters will be raised to be their own people and won't encounter this disorder, that may sound arrogant and I may be wrong, but anorexia is NOT caused through thin models, it's caused by lack of self esteem and that is given to you far closer to home.

[johnlambert]

I dont think teenage girls are as impressionable as we would like to think, there are loads of girls walking around these days with hideous overhanging tummies on their jeans with a backside the size of Japan squeezed inside, and it's not down to childbirth. In my opinion its due to too many fast food outlets, (you know the one I mean, I dont want to mention McDonalds in case they sue), and lack of excercise. I cant recall seeing so many overweight girls when I was a teenage lad in the 70's

[spanner7853]

I have a 13 year old and although she eats healthly she does worry about her weight. I have told her not to d=feel pressured into being thin as it is not the look of someone but what is inside that counts. I have also told her that these models are abnormally thin. I dont believe that anyone can be 5'10'' and naturally a size zero unless they have an overactive thyroid problem.
I think it is disgusting seeing these near on skeletal models who are in dire need of some food. I am glad that some of these models agency's are making sure these women are checked over before employing them.

[Pippa68]

You are correct there, pa___ul.

I have a couple of naturally thin friends, and they look great ~ not gaunt, and their frames don't look out of proportion to their heads! they don't have wasted thighs or knobbly knees either..

I remember looking at photos of Victoria Beckham when she was pregnant. She looked great, although she seemed to be constantly hiding her 'fat' under a large shawl.

[crete]

"struck fear into many people" where is the evidence for the statement ?

[AB Editor]

Afternoon everyone, for those of you who are interested there is a second 'AB Asks' topic which can be found in the News category

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon

AB Ed

[smudge]

I really do think that anorexic girls & boys - men & women, suffer from very low self esteem & have other underlying problems, rather than trying to emulate the stick thin models of today.

I am also very grateful that our two daughters & our 17 year old granddaughter, weren't/aren't impressionable enough to be taken in by all this constant losing weight hype. I only hope the two younger granddaughters will follow suit.

When you look at how skinny/slim Twiggy was in her younger years - that was me, but with dark hair!

Although I was brought up on meat, 3 veg & thoroughly enjoyed all of Mum's cooking, including stews & Yorkshire puddings - no matter how much I ate, I just couldn't put on any weight! Having said that, my Mum, Dad & all of my siblings were also naturally very slim & tall.

I was 7 stone when we got married & I hated the fact that I was so skinny/slim & longed for a 'real' woman's curvy figure, with bigger breasts - but my husband loved me the way I was.

I remember one particular girl at school taking the mickey out of me because I was stick thin - but Karma did it's job in the end, as she now looks very frumpy with boobs down to her waist, whereas I'm now a healthy size 12 with 36C breasts!

So eat your heart out JC!

[SizzleSquid]

Skinny is ugly. Not butt, scrawny legs, ribs poking out when you strectch-ugh. Men find that repulsive. I used to be really skinny and always got teased, i was called fish legs, eitheopia, ect, and was never looked at by boys.

i gained a bit of weight, got myself a juicy butt and now get loadsa attn. Ban these models

[LostStar]

Some wise words here folks... Speaking being a girl in the latter teenage years myself... i think the main reason - as others have said for people having [any] eating disorder(s) is often down to emotional issues; low self-esteem, and maybe the reason why men don't find emaciatedly-thin girls attractive is because they have no confidence (which is, after all is one of the most attractive qualities -in both men and women) ? I am 'naturally thin' and being about 5'6 and in proportion to my height, would prefer to be refered to as slim! The way my body is, is down to eating moderately healthily - and i don't punish myself for eating the things i want, its just all about moderation.

I think it is always easy, no matter the issue to blame a group/ individuals - in this case, the size 0 models for the growing 'trend' of young girls with eating problems, but looking beneath that (as other ABers have said) one of the underlying causes i think can be down to attention seeking (NOT ALL THE TIME) or feeling unadequate/unloved by parents, or being outdone by an older sibling? Stopping eating is a way of preserving their child-like appearence and postpone them from developing into a woman/man. We mustn't forget this also affects and increasing number of the male population and i know through a friend, of a boy this has happened to.

[LostStar]

(accidently posted it before i'd finished rambling)

Like some others on here.. i wasn't proud to be envied by girls when i was at school, that wanted to be ''skinny''... But i found whilst i was chomping away on the right food they'd sit there and starve theselves comlpletely - when all they were in need of was less vanity and a jog round the block once in a while... You get compliments from girls and attention from guys, but as i understand, people who are too thin guys don't take a second look at because they think they'll snap if they do anything with them! And so many guys constantly go on about how attractive the curvy women are... I'm a healthy 9stone and do own a couple of size 8 jeans, but so what? I am happy with the way i am and any attention is a bonus, but the moment people realise that the less you are worried about your appearence, the better person you are to be around then all the better for it. Overweight people moan about skinny people as much as, the slimmer population tell the obese to diet and get healthy, but both drastic ends of the spectrum drain the health service! Gettng a bit off-track now, but i'd prefer to go out with a guy without a six-pack on his stomach, but whose up for a good time and a six pack of beer!

[lector]

I think people should be happy to be their 'natural size' that comes about through their genes.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but love is deeper.

Anyone who just looks for beauty is a prat and that goes for model agencies forcing impressionable 'star-struck' children (for that is what they still are) into losing weight.

[simsfreq]

I don't think size zero models on the catwalks are supposed to be the most beautiful women, from what I have heard it is the designers who are promoting size zero because they think it makes their clothes look better. I'd be interested to know why clothes can't be made to look good on normal sized women.

Personally I only know one person who actually did aspire to be size zero and that was because she wanted to be a model. Most people I know would like to be thinner but think size sero models are grotesque. More to blame for the rise of anorexia in young girls is, I think, celebrity magazines who can't seem to outdo themselves each week with pointing out the slightest bit of fat on a celebrity's body - wake up world, as long as it's not out of control, it's normal, healthy and sexy to have a bit of fat!

[zigzag]

It's purely promotional value from the fashion world.
Pure greed in my opinion,
Not our fault the catwalk girls aren't educated.

[sandyg2244]

All I can say is:go Tyra Banks!

[jamesy boy]

If some women are daft/impressionable enough to try and look like this, then they are nuts. Blokes are now bombarded with images of fit actors/models with six-packs and such, but most of us couldn't give a toss whether we meet these media imposed 'standards'. If nobody bought magazines which promoted IQ zero- sorrry, size zero- models, then things would change quick-smart.

[Presario]

What interests me is how men say they like curvy women and then list celeb women who are stick thin as the ones they find most attractive. And what size is curvy?? Some men on here describe 10 - 12 as curvy where as for me I see that as very slim!! I am size 14 - 16 and consider myself curvy, yet other people would describe that size as fat and I even get told (by a few) that I'm slim! SO where is the line between "stick" thin/ slim/ curvy/ fat??

[Goodsoulette]

I dont know what s been said already as I dont have my glasses with me but I dont think its the size 0 models that make girls stick thin, its the magazines that point out gerri halliwell has got a bit fat when she becomes a size 8.

I personally think Posh looks brilliant dressed, Im sure she looks a little bit funny naked we all focus too much on what clothes size is right. Guys say they like curves but a curvy 8 is possible and might not look too skinny on some girls, yet skeletal on others. I have noticed that there must be call for the smaller sizes as George have started producing size 4s in most of their clothes.

I did agree with Mycats post though, why because someone is thin do people feel its ok to slag them off about it to their face. If they are naturally skinny then its just plain rude and if they have an eating disorder then people need to tread more carefully.