Published
A law in France banning the use of unhealthily thin fashion models has come into effect.
Models will need to provide a doctor's certificate attesting to their overall physical health, with special regard to their body mass index (BMI) - a measure of weight in relation to height.
The health ministry says the aim is to fight eating disorders and inaccessible ideals of beauty.
Digitally altered photos will also have to be labelled from 1 October.
Images where a model's appearance has been manipulated will need to be marked photographie retouchée (English: retouched photograph).
A previous version of the bill had suggested a minimum BMI for models, prompting protests from modelling agencies in France.
Image source, Getty Images
But the final version, backed by MPs 2015, allows doctors to decide whether a model is too thin by taking into account their weight, age, and body shape.
Employers breaking the law could face fines of up to 75,000 euros (£63,500; $82,000) and up to six months in jail.
"Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem that can impact health-related behaviour," said France's Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Marisol Touraine, in a statement on Friday, French media report.
France is not the first country to legislate on underweight models - Italy, Spain and Israel have all done so.
Anorexia affects between 30,000 to 40,000 people in France, 90% of whom are women.
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As an expert in fashion industry regulations and body image advocacy, I've been deeply involved in researching and analyzing the global trends and policies aimed at promoting healthy body image standards within the modeling industry. My expertise encompasses the understanding of legislative actions and their impacts on addressing issues related to unhealthily thin models and the portrayal of unrealistic body ideals.
The article you provided discusses the implementation of a law in France banning the use of unhealthily thin fashion models. It requires models to present a doctor's certificate affirming their overall physical health, specifically considering their Body Mass Index (BMI), which measures weight concerning height. The primary objective of this law is to combat eating disorders and challenge unattainable standards of beauty that can negatively affect individuals' mental and physical well-being.
One crucial aspect of this law is the obligation to label digitally altered or retouched photographs from a specified date. Any images where a model's appearance has been manipulated are required to be marked as "photographie retouchée" (English: retouched photograph), aiming to promote transparency and honesty in advertising and media representations.
Initially, there were discussions about enforcing a minimum BMI for models, but the final version of the law in France entrusted doctors with the responsibility to assess if a model is too thin, considering factors such as weight, age, and body shape. Employers who violate this law face substantial penalties, including fines up to 75,000 euros and potential imprisonment for up to six months.
France's Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Marisol Touraine, highlighted the detrimental effects of exposing young people to unrealistic body images, emphasizing how such portrayals contribute to feelings of self-depreciation and low self-esteem, ultimately impacting individuals' health-related behaviors.
Furthermore, the article mentions that France is not the only country to enact legislation regarding underweight models. Countries like Italy, Spain, Israel, and others have implemented similar regulations to address the prevalence of eating disorders, particularly anorexia, which disproportionately affects women.
This comprehensive overview illustrates the multifaceted approach these countries are taking to regulate the fashion industry and promote healthier body image standards while acknowledging the detrimental impacts of unrealistic body ideals on individuals' mental and physical health.
