Israel’s skinny model ban: New law requires body mass index of 18.5 or a doctor’s note

The issue of ultra thin models and how they relate to girl's body image has been controversial for a long time. Lawmakers in Israel are trying to ban ultra thin models by requiring a body mass index of 18.5 or a doctor's note. These means a six foot model would have to weigh 136.5 pounds. This will hopefully encourage a better body image among teens, especially in a country where two percent of 14 to 18 year old girls have some type of eating disorder. One of the lawmakers is quoted saying "Beautiful is not underweight; beautiful should not be anorexic."

The way I see it this law could possible really help young girls while taking the pressure off models to be super skinny. The issues of the modeling industry definitely need to be addressed and soon. Although it's possible that a law like this and ones like would only change the issue instead of fix it. What if the tables turn and suddenly natural skinny girls cannot get modeling jobs unless they gain weight. An industry where average to overweight people have been discriminated against for years could suddenly start discriminated everyone who doesn't have a body mass index of 18.5. I'm not saying this law isn't a good idea, I'm just saying that there is more to the issue than a body mass index. It has to do with how girls see themselves and others, what is considered beautiful and what isn't. I just hope that some of the overlying problems are addressed along with this law.

Stableford, Dylan. "Israel's Skinny Model Ban: New Law Requires Body Mass Index of 18.5 or a Doctor's Note." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 18 Jan. 0000. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/israel-skinny-model-ban-law-requires-body-mass-160408015.html>.