Models Must Have A Doctor's Note To Prove They're Not Too Thin, France Rules

These Models Must Now Have A Doctor's Note To Prove They're Not Too Thin

France has adopted a new law that will force models to provide a doctor's certificate to prove they are healthy.

The law also requires magazines to clearly label any Photoshopped images they publish.

Breaches of this law will be punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 75,000 euros (around £54,350).

Models will need a medical note stating that their health, "assessed in particular in terms of body mass index, is compatible with the practise of the [modelling] profession".

Images of models in magazines that are altered to "make the silhouette narrower or wider" must be labelled "touched up", to avoid breaking the law, which was passed on Thursday 17 December.

An original draft of the bill, much like MP Caroline Noake's campaign in the UK, proposed the enforcement of a minimum BMI for models.

But in the end it was agreed to let doctors decide whether a model is too thin, based on a wider range of criteria including age, gender and body shape.

The British Fashion Council does not enforce a minimum BMI, as it believes it is an inaccurate measure for young women. Instead, the organisation says it has “a focus on looking after models [and] encourages health and wellbeing with healthy food and drink provided backstage at shows”.

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