Last Wednesday, French fashion houses, advertising firms, and media houses banded together to declare super-skinny models out of style. With the support of the Minister of Health, they signed an agreement to stop using models whose appearance could contribute to an unhealthy body image for girls. The agreement doesn't exactly restrict the use of too-thin models, but it's a show of good faith.

France's National Assembly is also reviewing a project that could make the promotion of unhealthy body images punishable by law.

Young girls in particular are susceptible to low self-esteem and a flawed body image. The number of pro-anorexia web sites on the Internet is proof that body image is an ever increasing concern. It's high time we all learn to love ourselves a little more -- bumps and flaws included. Fitness and nutrition is for health and wellness -- super-skinny may look good in pair of size 0 jeans but it's far from healthy.

Source

Respected actress and former model Dame Helen Mirren has let her feelings be known on the issue to too-skinny girls in the fashion industry. Who's to blame? Women. Fueled by the fact that her slender niece was told she would have to lose weight if she expected to be taken on by a modelling agency, she says:

"It is women who run the magazines and women who editorialise and women who make the decisions. I think it is completely iniquitous to have incredibly skinny girls on the runway. A lot of the girls are horrifically thin and of course they have a problem. Mostly the fashion industry chooses to turn a blind eye ... The whole thing is based on fantasy. The catwalk clothes may look fabulous on the thin girl but they look ridiculous on a normal slim girl."

What do you think? Are men completely blameless when it comes to the size of women in the spotlight today? Are we women our own worst enemies?

To find out more about what The Queen star has to say about the fashion industry, plastic surgery and more, click here.

Source