The Indian Health minister, Anbumani Ramadoss has said he does not want underweight models parading on India's catwalks. The young beauties serve as role models for India's young girls who end up suffering from osteoporosis in an attempt to stay thin. Although many children suffer from malnutrition and poverty India's growing middle class is increasingly suffering from Western disorders such as anorexia, diabetes and obesity.
This news follows as Spain announced last week it was banning all models with a BMI of less than18. Tessa Jowell, the UK culture secretary has also laid into ultra-skinny models stating: "The fashion industry's promotion of beauty as meaning stick thin is damaging to young grils' self-image and to their health". Fashion Week called a possible ban a 'knee-jerk reaction' and cancelled a fashion shoot to avoid giving more publicity to the controversy.
