Thin: Is It Worth Suffering

For some women, thin is literally "to die for." At no other time in history has the fashion industry and the media's idea of beauty been so narrow-minded and detrimental to the well being of models and society than it is today. Since 1990, magazine and fashion models have steadily grown thinner and unhealthier, while eating disorders have steadily risen. It was not until several fashion models died of symptoms from eating disorders that the issue of models being too thin was finally taken seriously. A model's profession requires a certain amount of attractiveness and thinness; however, the fashion industry and media have taken thinness to an unrealistic and unhealthy level. It is time for these industries to realize that thinness does not sell products and the image they portray as an ideal causes self-esteem issues and unhealthy eating habits for women all over the world. The fashion world and media have a very powerful means of dictating their taste to consumers; however, they need to evoke a more realistic and healthier body image.

The fashion industry and the media claim there is no evidence that correlates them with eating disorders, yet many models are struggling or have died because of eating disorders. According to an article in Feminine Beauty, "the skinny on the general public vs. the fashion industry," Luisel Ramos, a 22-year-old model collapsed and died of heart failure as a result of anorexia nervosa in August 2006. She reportedly was on a diet of lettuce and Diet Coke for several months prior to her death because she was told she could become an international sensation if she lost weight. Tragically, just 6 months after Luisel's death, her 18-year old sister Eliana, who was also a model, died of symptoms of anorexia. A Brazilian model, Ana Carolina Reston, died November 15, 2006, of kidney malfunction due to anorexia and bulimia nervosas. She had reportedly been informed while on a casting call in China that she was "too fat", which led to her unhealthy eating habits. Then, in November 2007 Israeli model, Hila Elmalich, died as a result of anorexia. She succumbed to the industry's pressure to be thin weighing less than 60 pounds at the time of her death ("The Skinny"). Not one of these fashion models were top high-fashion models like Tyra Banks or Christie Brinkley, who can afford to have curvier shapes. They are less famous fashion models who obviously tried to comply with the needs of the fashion designers and agents or risk losing their jobs. Their deaths exemplify how the fashion world's demand on models to be thin does correlate with eating disorders.

Anyone can develop an eating disorder; however, those who hold jobs or who participate in activities where there is a focus on weight and appearance are at a higher risk ("Eating Disorders"). This certainly includes the fashion industry where a demand for thinness