Well intentioned but mis-directed change

Spain has banned models with low BMI for fashion week

I'm not sure how I feel about this.

On the one hand, at this point its voluntary for designers to comply, but people are pushing for legislation to be put in place if that fails. No matter how good the intentions are, I'm not sure I'm comfortable with any government legislating any aspect of my body. Yes, a lot of these girls have unhealthy lifestyles, but that's a choice for them to make. Also, those who are in the grip of an eating disorder won't be helped by this legislation at all. Its confrontational, and will only force them to insist nothing is wrong. If anything it will delay those who are sick from realizing it and seeking help. Seems paradoxical, but that's generally the case.

Point the second: they're only addressing the weight issue here, while the most unhealthy runway models for major designers have to be at least 5'8". The average woman is closer to 5'5". Is this height requirement fostering unrealistic expectations? Runway models aer also expected to have chests of B cup or smaller. Yet large breasts are still considered sexy. I have no idea what the average is on that front, but would they be willing to start regulating breast size? Runway models are often expected to have small feet, despite the height requirements, usually around a size 8. (I'm 5'6" and a size 9 shoe... average across the board.) Are they planning to address that issue as well?

By effectively sweeping severely under weight women under the carpet, they are in effect labeling them as shameful, and that will also make it harder for girls to change their eating habits.

There's also the question of intended audience. Fashion week, and Fashion magazines are not really the same thing. Fashion week is a series of industry show cases (each major city gets their own) where high profile designers show silly, ridiculous, shocking, outre designs and shows to make an impression on buyers for retailers and boutiques. Its to generate buzz. The crap walking down the runway isn't the crap they put in stores, even the high end nonsense stores on Rodeo. These are one-offs designed to make people remember your name. That's it. The fashion stuff being thrown at teens and young adults is more in the vein of celebrities on the red carpet, and advertisements for retail lines. While these ads also feature thin women, most of them are of healthier proportions then a "standard" runway model (I fit the body type for most mainstream catalog work. Am I unhealthy because I choose to go to the gym and maintain a comfortable weight for my frame?). Regulating minimum weights for models at an event designed for adults isn't likely to have an effect on the models appearing in advertisements and entertainment.

However, I think its good that they've managed to get people talking about the issue some more. I would love to see a world of healthy happy women wearing comfortable flattering clothes and feeling secure, I just don't think legislating sick girls out of a job is the answer.