This is such a positive move, I hope this trend carries on outside Spain too. We have such a warped view of what is attractive, because of our (role) models being skinny. We need to promote a healthy attitude to weight. How can you do this when underweight bodies are taking over our screens.

Amelie, Devon, U.K

I think rather than BMI, they should be tested by doctors about their health. Now, this could be hard. how do you do this? The doctors could be incredibly biased to saying something that isn't true. All I know is, I am incredibly skinny. My BMI is right around 18. I am an endurance athlete with a very small frame, but I am pefectly healthy. I think my boyd type should be represented. I think ALL HEALTHY body types should be. (Sorry, this means no anorexic girl, bulemic, or obese) But there are girls who are perfectly healthy who rank as overweight or obese by BMI standards and there are girls (much fewer) who are perfectly healthy who rank in underweight. We don't need to send the message that your body shape is WRONG. As we all know, we have been dealing with this conflict for quite a while. I was naturally very thin and I as well ha body issues because I was told it was "wrong" all the time. A girl who is a natural size US10-14 will often be told by statistics the same thing. End it!

Kelli Kickham, tulsa, ok, USA

the main focus for a fashion show are the clothes but when other people are distracted from the clothes because of how thin the models are then there is a problem.

Stephanie, New York, NY

.As I am a teenager (14 years old)
I know what its like comparing myself to these stick skinny models.It is causing so many young girls to diet and mesure themselves.It is a danger not only to the models but also to their fans.It can be depressing for lots of young girls who see friends and idols fitting into the smallest possible clothes and getting so much attention because of the way they look.I think it is a shame people use such thin models to show off their clothes why cant the use some real women an average woman? it might make people respect the models and the designer a lot more.

Gen (teenager), NA, Ireland

Although this move is long overdue the actual issue isn't really properly adressed by simply banning any model with a BMI under 18. This assumes that anyone with less than this is unhealthy. The real concern is models who are genuinely unhealthy and putting themselves at risk by undergoing unbalanced diets containing less then the neccessary amounts of nutrients that the body requires,
What really should be banned here are the models who are making themselves ill for the sake of their career.
It is these women who are creating the bad roles models. Dieting is not unhealthy if done correctly, so that your body gets what it needs. Starving onself, on he other hand, is.
What we need to see on the catwalks is healthy women, of all shapes and sizes. After all is fashion not an extended celebration of life?

Suzie Bishop, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

while BMI is not an indicator of overall health -it is a step in the right direction for the modeling world that they are even considering putting the "guidelines" into practice. This is huge and I am actually in tears over this news ---because I have just met way too many young women and men this week who are suffering from ED/body image issues.
I applaud Spain for taking a stance and doing the HEALTHY thing. They are sending a huge message that needs to be spread throughout the world.
peace and well-being, Kathleen MacDonald, The FREED Foundation -For Recovery & Elimination of Eating Disorders

KATHLEEN, WASHINGTON, DC/USA

No models under the age of 21. No adult model any scrawnier than a size 12.

cam, uk,

I am delighted to read that excessively thin models are being banned. In my opinion it is long overdue.
lt is every bit as unhealthy and unattractive as overly obese models. There is no doubt that it has contributed greatly to eating disorders in young people.
How can it be attractive to see a a model's bones sticking out, with pale, pasty skin and hollowed eyes ?
I am told that they are nothing but 'clothes horses' but shouldn't the designers be dispalying their clothes on average size women so that we can identify with them more ?? lf an outfit only looks right on an overly thin model then it isn't going to sell too well is it ?? Anyway what is wrong with seeing a few feminine curves the way nature intended - and the way the vast majority of men prefer ??
lt is not just a female thing for me either - l find excessively thin or overly obese men unattracted as well.
Stick thin or obese - it shows a mental off balance somewhere, and both are just plain wrong.

J.S., Kent, UK

BMI is such a poor way to measure someone's perfect weight. Sure, some models starve themselves, but some are just naturally skinny.

Scottie, New York, NY, USA

This is a very sad move. These girls are being discriminated against because they are beautiful and able to exercise better restraint than most with their diet. If fashion shows are forced to use large "Nigella' types then they will lose touch with their aesthetic roots.
Being thin is healthy, in fact a low calorie diet is the only scientifically proven method of extending lifespan.

Tom Leeburn, London, Great Britain

I'm all for healthy role models, but if these girls were healthy and just happened to be quite slim [and actually, a BMI below 18 doesn't make you that tiny, to be honest - I'm 5'6" and a size 8 and my BMI is about 17] then surely they should be allowed to work - just as someone who was overweight but healthy should be allowed to work as well? The emphasis should be on health, not on appearances, and the point about body image should surely be that ALL shapes and sizes are beautiful as long as you're healthy and happy?

charlotte riley, london,

And yet we are bombarded daily with adverts featuring 'real women', and 'big but beautiful' women. someone please tell me the difference? why are thin healthy girls out and fat unhealthy girls in? i thought we were in the middle of an obesity crisis?

fraser, manchester,

Excessively thin isn't attractive to me, but the purpose of a runway model is to show off the clothing...these women enter the modeling-fashion industry knowing how rigorous the work is...Teen models must be supervised to ensure their safety in the work place but once they achieve their majority they should be in charge of their lives and careers...

I don't believe for a second that how a model looks influences mentally healthy girls' attitudes & perceptions about their bodies and their appearance...those influences are almost always more local...and nothing can help girls whose mental-emotional development has been skewed or arrested in some way...they become what they become...

This 'banning of too-thin' models is just another example of social do-gooders deciding that they know what's best for other people...more cultural socialism.

What's next? ...reinforced walkways to support heavy-duty beauties as models?

jColes, Elba, AL, USA

Having a friend telling me about her experiences as a model, she just need to starve herself just to be considered for the job. She did it for a couples of years and was quite successful.
So it is nice to see one organisation taking mesures. Although most model agency will refuse a model on the bases of overweight, but none seems to do so for being too skinny.
But they are not the only one to blame. Designers, advertising agencies, fashion editors, are the one telling us what we should look like. It is unfortunate, that these people are also associated with parties , alcohol, drugs, sex and flamboyant life in general. That may explain the non sense. I personnaly don't trust them a second.

laurent, london, uk

I'm glad they are finally wising up to this kind of thing. Who wants to see clothes paraded around on a stick? At the end of the day, these clothes are being displayed because they want people to buy them. If you're say, a healthy size 8/10, go into a shop and try something on and it looks awful on you (but looked good on the mannequin in the window), then something is going seriously wrong with the world.

Lucy, Reading,

Congratulations Spain...What a sensible example to all!

Caroline, London,

The reason those runway models are always frowning and looking mean is that they haven't had a decent meal in years. No wonder they never smile. Smiles and curves are OUT! Misery is the order of the day.

Brock Winfrey, Fredericksburg, Va.

This is certainly a good move, and it will be good the do the same on the other side of the scale and people with people excesively overweight being banned from public apperances.

John Heart, Windsor, Berkshire

HOORAY! As a youth worker and a mother I would love to see this being adopted worldwide- wouldn't it be great to see things change in the fashion industry- not just banning super-skinnyness but introducing all different shapes and sizes. To be encouraging health and beauty, and to celebrate curves!! Maybe this is just the beginning...

Charlotte Gompertz, mittersill, Austria

"Is it safe to assume we can also Ban people from certain jobs for being too fat."

Yes. Airlines frequently ban flight attendants or pilots that are too fat. It creates a safety issue.

IMHO, they should raise the minimum BMI to 18 for these shows. Those skinny models are ridiculous. I don't believe in requiring the shows to do it.. They should do it because they want to.

Congrats to Madrid!

Kevin C, San Jose, CA

I'm all for more positive role models, but I'd like to note that the BMI (body mass index) concept was first devised in the 19th century, was adopted as a mesaure of obesity in the early 80s and has not been altered since? I'm just sayin'

Deb, Nashville, TN (USA)

Believe it or not, just because someone is super skinny does not mean that they have an eating disorder. Just as some fat people have extremely sluggish metabolism, some skinny people have very active metabolism. One of my oldest friends is super thin, weighing about 90 lbs. if that and it is NOT caused by eating disorders. She eats normally, always has, but just can't pack on the pounds.
Also, blaming someone else (in this case, thin models) for an individual's problems is stupid. If your children are so easy influenced and swayed by models, I'd venture to say you haven't done a very good job parenting them.

Kristi, Ohio,

While I appreciate the intent of the banning of these models. Many factors go into the well being of any individual than a simple BMI number.

I am 6'7" (~2m) tall, 38 inch waist, 245 pounds. I am not really "fat" by any measure other than the BMI number. BMI puts me in the overweight while being quite close to obese.

If the women are healthy let them work. Maybe a medical professional could certify them as being healthy in a similar manner to professional athletes.

Those three women had the right to work if they were healthy and subjective measures such as BMI should only be part of any determination.

We all still individuals in this world and should evaluated thusly.

HC, Detroit, USA / MI

Yes, RCJ, it IS safe to assume that obese 250lb women are banned from the runway in Cibeles. When was the last time you saw one? Is it safe to assume that you just thought that was a coincidence?

barbee, Forney, TX

Europe so embraces the nanny state. Individualism cannot and will not be tolerated. Europeans rail against the influence of Church doctrine while embracing the repressing doctrine of political correctness. Slipping further each day into the abyss.

Patti O'Riley, Oakland, CA

Who are these people to say that some arbitrary number determines someone else's health? Some people are just naturally skinny, like others are naturally tall or curvy or have brown hair. Some people have high metabolisms and, as a result, have low but healthy body mass. It's just another example of the "enlightened" government insisting it knows what is best for everybody. Except in this instance, everyone goes along with it. People protest all the time about the limitations of freedom the government imposes as it takes on extra powers in wartime, but everyone is all for restricting the freedom of these women to work in their own profession. If our children need the government to monitor their role models - why isn't the government doing something about Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears? Why pick on these hardworking women whose only crime is being enviously skinny? Have some self-respect and teach your children to take responsibility for their own lives, rather than preach at others.

Caroline, Washington, DC

@RCJ. Most jobs do not have the glamorous appeal of a fashion model. I believe young girls (and boys) are less likely to want to copy an overweight bus driver or an overweight CEO. Also, people are already being banned from certain jobs because they are too fat, eg. flight -attendants.
I applaud the Madrid orginanisers, it's a start and i hope the other fashion capitals will follow.

joanna, chicago,

>> Is it safe to assume we can also Ban people from certain jobs for being too fat. So fat that it is unhealthy. Even if they could perform the work just fine? If not, why not and why doesn't that logic apply to thin people?

ANSWER: If that person's job has just as great an impact on the youth as a model does, then ... not just Yes, but of course.

The REAL question is, who except the loons in the world of fashion actually find such women attractive.

Jon, USA,

I have personally experienced the world of eating disorders, so I'm glad that the fashion world is taking a few healthy steps. I just know that girls look at models and want to be beautiful like them, and want to have bodies like them. There are many, many impressionable girls who start at a young age, without even knowing what an eating disorder is, to starve themselves because they think that's the only way they'll be as thin and pretty as those models. Hopefully more people in the fashion business will start to take that seriously.

JLB, Huntsville, AL

actually, RCJ, some people ARE barred from certain jobs for their physical condition. in certain arenas is just good sense to bar people, based on their physical considition, to not get certain. no one is saying that should they come up to scratch that they can't have the job, it's just saying they need to get in the proper shape for it.

KC, Fort Collins, usa

The difference between the two situations is that there is not pressure in your work environment to be fat to an unhealthy degree. The concern with models is that their profession continues to pressure them to be thinner and thinner, which IS a health risk. You can be as unhealthy as you like almost everywhere and no one will say boo to you, so I applaud the modeling industry for recognizing it was pressuring women into early graves with the persistent use of models that were borderline skeletal.

Eric, Pasadena,

Is it safe to assume we can also Ban people from certain jobs for being too fat. So fat that it is unhealthy. Even if they could perform the work just fine? If not, why not and why doesn't that logic apply to thin people?

RCJ, balt, usa

As a father of an 11 year old, I am happy someone in the fashion industry is doing this. Most of us are not that skinny and I don't understand the industries fasination for these models who keep themselves skinny by starving themselves and injesting various types of narcodics. I hope the rest of the world follows the examples of Madrid and Milan.

fatchapp, Chicago, IL

Having been in the situation of seeing the measuring tape come out before anything else on job interviews, and suffering from aneroxia and a distorted self image, I think these new rules regarding the BMI are wonderful! I wish they were in place in every country when I was younger and modeling! I hope they become industry standard, especially in Asia also.

Cindy, New York, NY