David Baxter PhD
Late Founder
France to outlaw promotion of extreme thinness
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
CBC News
French legislators are poised to make it illegal for websites and publications to promote extreme thinness.
The proposed law would apply to fashion magazines, advertisers and websites. Those found guilty of inciting others to deprive themselves of food to an 'excessive' degree would face imprisonment and fines of up to $47,000 US.
The National Assembly approved the bill in a series of votes Tuesday. It goes to the Senate in the coming weeks.
The bill is the latest and strongest of measures proposed after the 2006 anorexia-linked death of a Brazilian model prompted efforts throughout the international fashion industry to address the repercussions of using ultra-thin models. The 21-year-old model weighed just 88 pounds when she died of generalized infection caused by anorexia nervosa.
French lawmakers and fashion industry members signed a nonbonding charter last week on promoting healthier body images. Last year, Spain banned ultra-thin models from catwalks.
In March, Italian authorities launched a $1.5-million US campaign against a growing epidemic of anorexia and other eating disorders in a country known for its fashion industry and image consciousness. Authorities are aiming the project at schools and the media, providing guidelines for magazines, television, radio and internet sites to discourage ultra-thin beauty ideals.
According to the French Health Ministry, most of the estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people with anorexia in the country are women.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
CBC News
French legislators are poised to make it illegal for websites and publications to promote extreme thinness.
The proposed law would apply to fashion magazines, advertisers and websites. Those found guilty of inciting others to deprive themselves of food to an 'excessive' degree would face imprisonment and fines of up to $47,000 US.
The National Assembly approved the bill in a series of votes Tuesday. It goes to the Senate in the coming weeks.
The bill is the latest and strongest of measures proposed after the 2006 anorexia-linked death of a Brazilian model prompted efforts throughout the international fashion industry to address the repercussions of using ultra-thin models. The 21-year-old model weighed just 88 pounds when she died of generalized infection caused by anorexia nervosa.
French lawmakers and fashion industry members signed a nonbonding charter last week on promoting healthier body images. Last year, Spain banned ultra-thin models from catwalks.
In March, Italian authorities launched a $1.5-million US campaign against a growing epidemic of anorexia and other eating disorders in a country known for its fashion industry and image consciousness. Authorities are aiming the project at schools and the media, providing guidelines for magazines, television, radio and internet sites to discourage ultra-thin beauty ideals.
According to the French Health Ministry, most of the estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people with anorexia in the country are women.
