In an unprecedented move last week, the organizers of Madrid's fashion week made a bold decision to refuse models whose Body Mass Index (BMI) was lower than 18. The decision gained worldwide attention as the Madrid organizers became the first in the fashion world to publicly criticize the use of model who were too thin and potentially not healthy. Organizations in others cities may follow suit.

"British eating disorder experts yesterday called for a new law under health and safety legislation that would ban the use of models under a certain body size. They said that after years of promising to clean up its act voluntarily, the fashion industry had to be forced into protecting both the health of the models it uses, and the impact their images can have on impressionable young girls and women."

In addition, Milan, often considered the center of the fashion industry, announced last week that it will be imposing a similar ban on models used for its upcoming fashion week.

Posted By: Lori S