The Israeli Parliament's move to ban skinny models from appearing in that nation's media may be less momentous than its efforts to thwart Iran's bid to build nuclear weapons. But to the Israeli politicians who sponsored the measure, which won approval in Tel Aviv on Monday, and to American experts oneating disorders, the measure is a clear step toward a key goal: promoting more realistic body images among girls and women.
Less clear is whether such a measure can drive down eating disorders, which are thought to afflict some 7 million American women and 1 million American men, and as many as 2% of Israeli girls ages 14 to 18.
The Israeli measure would ban the use of models on catwalks or in advertising destined for the Israeli market if they "look underweight" or if their body-mass index falls below 18.5 — the World Health Organization's definition of underweight. If Israeli media outlets alter photographs to make models appear thinner, the measure requires them to disclose that fact.
interesting! do you know if something drastic led them to this decision like high levels of eating disorders or is it more precautionary?
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