The French Ban The Too Skinny
Filed under: Wacky, Tacky & True > Fashion Smashion > Francophilia
How are they ever going to enforce this???
The French Parliament has created a new bill that would make it illegal for anyone to publicly promote extreme thinness. This includes everything from magazines, newspapers, websites, anything media related.
How do you PROMOTE extreme thinness???
This has "issues" written all over it!
The bill has already been approved unanimously and is set to go for approval to the Senate in the next few weeks.
This law would be the strongest of its type ever passed. The proposed law comes after the death of a Brazilian model in 2006 which was linked to anorexia. Her death prompted officials throughout the fashion industry to re-evaluate and address the use of portraying extremely thin models. This also led to Spain banning extremely thin models from walking in their fashion shows.
The French Health Ministry reports that there about 30,000 to 40,000 people dealing with anorexia in France, with the majority of the cases being women.
Valery Boyer, the conservative lawmaker who created the bill, argued that any media outlet encouraging extreme weight loss or anorexia, should be punishable in court.
Last week, fashion industry members and lawmakers all signed a charter agreeing to promote healthier body images.
Under the new law, if you are found guilty of “inciting others to deprive themselves of food” to an excessive degree, judges will have the power to imprison or fine offenders up to $47,000. Authorities can also sanction those individuals responsible to magazine photos portraying "excessive thinness."
Some in the fashion industry are strongly opposing the bill, such as Didier Grumbach, president of the influential French Federation of Couture. Rightfully so!
Grumbach said, “Never will we accept in our profession that a judge decides if a young girl is skinny or not skinny. That doesn’t exist in the world, and it will certainly not exist in France.”
This is a troubling and scary issue.
Is the government going too far?
Is the media to blame for anorexia? Is it genetic? What about peer pressure????
So many questions!
[Image via WENN.]
MAKE WAY FOR ALL THE FATTIES
Too much government control.
I think it's a good idea.
4thhh
what about people who are just naturally thin?? Im thin and i'm so sick of people calling naturally skinny people anorexic! Its a completely different level! People should take into account that its just as hurtful for people to tell you to "eat" as it is for someone to be called "fat".
good idea!
The entire media and fashion industries created this monster - and it will not go away with legislation. I don't know how you turn this around - on the one hand the models are stick skinny, gross…on the other hand, Americans are getting fatter and fatter. How about healthy, people!
maybe it is exessive..but considering how much this affects little girls I support it!
finally someone in the fashion industry has relised that showing off the skinny isnt doing the younger genertion any good
xxx
silly
they should make that a law here too!
the government is going overboard on this one.
first!
The French have too many ridiculous laws. It's hard to take them seriously. They ban English words, put Brigitte Bardot on trial for daring to speak her opinion and now this crap. Stick to making perfume, little froggies.
I think it is a good idea. Youngsters are easily led and using thin models and having the websites about how to be skinny all promote. it. It is not as hard as you think Perez to stop these things.
Maybe the French government should ban long under arm hair for women and B.O.
Gross
FIRST
she's toot hin
I went to fashion school and now I work with aneorexic girls. This may not work but i think it's good that the governement cares what's being put out there. They care about people's health. It may not be the best way but atleast they are waking up to the fact that the image put out is making a difference in this disease's increase.
this is my thesis topic at OCAD
amazing
GO THE FRENCH
When are they going to make it illegal to promote being fat? That is way too much government control. Let people look the way they want to look!
Perez SPAM list see below!
ludacrious….. i'm not pro-ana, far from it but how do they plan to prove an organization is encouraging extreme thinness? there is a fine line between 'thin' and 'too thin' but i find it completely inappropriate that a governement body would step in and dictate people's bodies. how exactly do they think they can mediate this social phenomena that is 'pro-ana'?
First bitches!!
DONT FORGET TO BAN THE FAT PEOPLE ALSO!!!! YAH I MEAN YOU THE PERSON READING THIS THING, YOUR A FATTY MCNATTY
the media is definitely a huge part of why so many women have issues with their bodies…it will be interesting to see how this works out for france!!
I'm french and i think this is a stupid law. They want to condemn pro-ana sites but some are just a way for the anorexic people that is ill to talk about its illness.
Stupid.
what´s wrong with being skinny?
Uh, ever heard of the pro-ana movement? The groups that PROMOTE anorexia as a lifestyle choice? They're on the internet and they're scary.
that's BUUUUUUULLSHIT
they should ban fat people too then
The media is ABSOLUTELY to blame for people feeling inadequate!!!!! C'mon, Perez. Don't act coy. You are PERSONALLY responsible for making some of these starlets feel ugly, fat, etc. Bitch!
this is ridiculous. how can the government decide this? i honestly think its the "fat" person's problem if they can't appreciate themselves the way they are and see that people come and every shape in size, and yes, that means that some of us are naturally skinny WITHOUT suffering from an eating disorder. 4th??
While I agree that there need to be boundaries set for fashion models. I think that this is taking it too far. It's just too much to ask of people all at once. Start with the body fat % minimum in models like Spain did.
i think this is a good thing. if you have never had an eating disorder, you could not possibly understand.
NEWSFLASH: anorexia isn't the only eating disorder. there's bulimia, compulsive overeating disorder, purging disorder, ednos, and any interchangeable combo of those.
Perez, you are SO uneducated, or at least, you come off that way. I can't believe that you're really so vapid.
You simply cannot monitor people's lifestyle choices. And the enforcement will be impossible! Media reflects the demands of pop culture. France should aim at changing mind's, not media.
There is naturally thin and there is anorexic, creating a culture which promotes healthy living can only be a good thing. If models know that they can only be successful at a healthy weight then it will encourage a change in the various industries that fuel the obsession with size zero etc. Anything which will make those despicable 'pro ana' websites illegal (in France) has to be applauded.
Wow! Its about time for healthy women to be revered again. Hopefully it won't go sour and turn French people into the majority of American pigs.
do you copy paste everything u post? i read the exact same article on yahoo news so maybe u should credit them!!!
I think it's brilliant. As a psychotherapist working with women suffering from eating disorders, I can tell you that every one of my clients has cited the media as playing a role in their problem. All the psych studies show it - only 5% of women NATURALLY possess the ideal shown in the media.
Yes, peer pressure is definitely a part of it, but the peers are being influenced by the media so they can't help it. And as for genetics - partially true, but the media is SCAMMING people. Have you seen those new jenny craig ads saying that people need to lose weight to be healthy? Healthy does not necessarily = skinny. There need to be laws regulating the media, as eating disorders kill more people than BREAST CANCER!! It's the government's job to help protect citizens, and without regulations, the media will continue to brain wash people. This rule will also benefit models - yes some might be 'naturally skinny', but studies show that the 'ideal' we see in the media is possessed naturally by only 5% of women worldwide. If this is the case, then why are we advertising it???
I hope the rest of the world follows suit with this law.
I love that the guy says that it will never be accepted that a judge decide what is too skinny, but THE FASHION INDUSTRY THINKS IT'S PERFECTLY OK TO DECIDE WHAT IS TOO FAT. Double standards. You have to love them.
SOMEONE SHIT IN MY OVEN!
I think they are aiming at the web sites for anorexics that help them lose weight, people in the fashion industry that hire models whose ribs are showing, etc.
I am pretty thin myself but I eat a lot and exercise. I don't throw up, use laxatives or over-exercise. I want to stay fit, not thin.
Of course the media has to take some blame for this INCLUDING you. But anorexia is an addiction and diease just like drugs and alcohol. The problem is you call anyone fat or pregnant that isn't completely sick and suffering from body issues. I know several size 1 or zero people (I'm a size 4) and they are scarey skinny, I look huge next to them.
that chicks not even thin
yes! many questions! get yours answered at www.signsinthesun.com
Good for them.
Fo Realz=> Stop talking about things you don't know. There is no law against english words and all the french don't like Brigitte bardot. Keep your crap prejudices for you.
TYPICAL FRENCH, THEY CAN'T DEAL WITH REAL ISSUES OF TODAY, AND PROBLEMS IN THEIR COUNTRY. WTF? YOU ARE SETTING LAWS FOR THE FASHION INDUSTRY? HOW REDICULIOUS THIS IS. THE INDUSTRY SHOULD DO THEIR OWN WORK AND SET STANDARDS, NOT GOVERNMENT. IS THIS WHY FRANCE IS GOING BROKE. THE FRENCH CAN'T THINK ANYMORE.
I am a very thin girl and I exercise and eat all kinds of foods. I do not have a weight problem and am so sick of skinny girls getting all this bad press. What about obesity, that is way more deadly and on the rise!
NEVER been so angry at an article as I was over this one. The fashion industry is not to be blaimed for people's unhealty eating patterns. Our society today has to stop putting the blaime on "orginizations as a whole" and let people take responsability for their own actions.
Most people referred to in this article have access to computers and public televisions. We all have doctors, or at least can get to a health care service. If someone chooses to be skinny to a point of unhealthiness, that is THEIR decision. The same applies to people in the opposite spectrum of things. With or without this law in place, people are still going to make the decisions they do. Punishing a whole, gorgeous industry for it is not the answer.
I think models are beautiful. I think skinny is beautiful. But does that mean I'm going to stop eating and pick up smoking to loose a few extra pounds? no. I can think it's beautiful and still not feel the need to model myself after it.
The media plays a HUGE role in eating disorders!
Maybe if sites like this ones stopped calling skinny people fat (i.e. Faith Hill), there wouldn't be a problem with "extreme thinness".
there are really pro anorexia websites - pro ana - it is scary. they tell how to not eat - distracting yourself when you are hungry - meal plans for a 250 calorie day etc. Also what to eat that is easy to purge. Those sites should be the ones targeted. It is like teaching someone how to be a cutter. Distructive and dangerous
So then they'll also have to forbid everything that promote's extreme overweight, right?
Like Mc Donald adverts. Look at how many people are extreamly heavy because they don't understand how bad pre-fab-food is for you're body.
(though I realy don't like looking at anoraxic people, they're scary!)
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE BILL.
NO MATTER WHAT THE FASHION INDUSTRY HAS TO SAY
you're a moron, perez. stop trying to be journalistic and stick to blogging about celebrities.
I think perhaps imprisonment is a bit extreme and unrealistic but major steps do need to be taken to promote a healthier body image and no you cant control peoples lifestyles or be against naturally thin people but many young girls are strongly influenced by the media. if the media promoted a healthier weight girls would pick up on that and things would slowly change. this would also decrease peer pressure to be thin as the standard normal weight would change.
I think it is stupid. Some girls are just born skinny and can't do anything about it. This is just putting a downer on the girls that can't help being skinny. Imagine if we banned fat models… how would everyone feel about that? I do understand the whole concept of how the media portrays all the skinnny models and how it causes eating disorders, but I do NOT think it should be made a law.
"Is the media to blame for anorexia? Is it genetic? What about peer pressure????"
THE MEDIA IS TO BLAME, DUMBASS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE FROM THE MEDIA AND IDIOTS LIKE YOU, NO ONE WOULD BE HATING THEIR BODIES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A SIZE 2, YOU STUPID FUCK!
"Is the media to blame for anorexia? Is it genetic? What about peer pressure????"
THE MEDIA IS TO BLAME, DUMBASS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE FROM THE MEDIA AND IDIOTS LIKE YOU, NO ONE WOULD BE HATING THEIR BODIES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A SIZE 2, YOU STUPID FUCK!
"Is the media to blame for anorexia? Is it genetic? What about peer pressure????"
THE MEDIA IS TO BLAME, DUMBASS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE FROM THE MEDIA AND IDIOTS LIKE YOU, NO ONE WOULD BE HATING THEIR BODIES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A SIZE 2, YOU STUPID FUCK!
"Is the media to blame for anorexia? Is it genetic? What about peer pressure????"
THE MEDIA IS TO BLAME, DUMBASS, BECAUSE WITHOUT THE PRESSURE FROM THE MEDIA AND IDIOTS LIKE YOU, NO ONE WOULD BE HATING THEIR BODIES BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT A SIZE 2, YOU STUPID FUCK!
peer pressure? eating disorders are a disease, perez. i think this is a good idea.
I TOTALLY AGREE!!!…..On average women (all around the world) are not built likes most of these models….I think its time we all act like adults and design clothes for REAL WOMEN!…..No I'm not fat……no I'm skinny……I an AVERAGE REALLLL WOMAN!….
Not fair to the skinny. I am skinny not anerexic, in fact as a child my cuban parents tried to fatten me up but nothing worked. Some people are skinny people. This is discrimination!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish U S of A would inforce something like this. I admit, I'm not fat, but I feel it from looking at all these models and Hollyweird people. So I am going to drain myself out at the gym tonight hoping a miracle happens. Oh the wonders of the mind…
I think this is a gret idea! When they banned glamorizing smoking in ads it started the trend of smoking being "uncool"…hopefully this will have the same effect! Eating disorders are very sad and painful for everyone involved!
Guess that means no hunger strikes for a free Tibet.
This is a bizare and fascist law.
there are many, many possible causes for anorexia and other eating disorders, so of course this new law is not going to completely eradicate eating disorders in france. cases of eating disorders have been recorded throughout history, before the media and western ideals existed.
however, there is extensive evidence that in many cases of eating disorders, the media can be an influence. a study on the introduction of t.v., and therefore western ideals to fiji has been linked to a significant increase in eating disorders there - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/347637.stm
i would support this law, as long as it is carried out logically and takes the percentage body fat of a model into account as opposed to bmi. though the best thing really would be more education for the general public on the subject, because ignorance definitely plays a role.
I think it's a good idea.
They should make it illegal to be too fat also.
The media has been going too far promoting sickly thinness, and it is time for the government to step in. The only reason people are complaining about this is because they want to continue with their disgusting charade of promoting girls so skinny that its ugly. It is not healthy and needs to be stopped, as it is affecting people and society in general. Perez, you of all people, being a plus sized man, should agree with their efforts. And this is not the first country to make rules such as this.
If any government can do this the French can. They have an entire branch of the government devoted to monitoring and governing their language - why not this? They love politics to make a statement. I love France!
J'♥ FRANCE
This is the government going WAY too far.
is that picture of courtney love?
——–DAMN, thats the most retarded thing i've ever heard….it should be the other way around: They should ban FAT PEOPLE! they're the ones using all our natural resources. it would be easy here, just round them up at walmart.
Re: kala – you think pro-ana sites should be allowed? they're NOT a way for girls to talk about getting better, it's in the name, they're PRO anorexia. I know from experience the girls encourage each other to stay on the anorexia course until death. Forums for recovered anorexics should be available, without any pro-anorexia undertones, but pro-ana sites are dangerous. Then again, how do you control the internet? It's too tricky.
are you a freaking idiot? of course the media is responsible for making anorexia the phenomenon it is today! the french government was right in passing that law, we need to change the media's portrayal of the "perfect" body image because it has resulted in a countless number of girls killing themselves by trying to be unrealistically skinny. dove has the right idea with their real beauty campaign.
I see no problem in regulating advertising if it's for a product that is deemed to be bad for public health. If people are so accepting of the heavily-regulated marketing of tobacco and alcohol products, then why not this? Why do you think films have age ratings on them? Some topics should not be taken lightly.
If anyone can do anything to prevent further pointless illness and death from eating disorders, then go for it! This may not cure the problem, but it's definitely a step in the right direction!
People need to relax when it comes to government intervention. The world is full of conspiracy theorists. Did you know that sometimes the government is there to help people? SHOCK HORROR!
Maybe this is hard for Americans to understand.
I think it's a good law ! Media are pressuring young girls and finally healthy looking girls are hotter !
French already made laws again obesity : (but ridiculous laws) every ad that promote junk food have to put a banner which theme is how to eat in a good way. So we (I'm french) we are searching solutions for all the weight's problem ! We don't have as much obeses as in UK or USA thanks to our traditions : we like to sit while eating …
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
J'♥ FRANCE
Re: Allie –
I totally agree.
Im a size too and i feel fat all the time when i know im not, because im models and the people promoting them like these. You have to be an idiot to say this isn't having a huge affect on people and changing their views of what's beautiful and what's overweight.
when it comes down to it i doubt they will create a like, "Skinny Awareness Committe" where old French men sit in a room looking through magazines searching for women who are breaking the law. also, what about ads shot in American, Italy, London, etc? I think this is a good idea when it comes to promoting healthy body image for women (and men)…i just don't think this is the right way to go about it.
No joke people thin is not mandatory for most people. Body fascism must be put an end to .
I'm a big huge fat person, and skinny models don't bother me at all.
.
It is more harmful to me when fast food places like carl's jr. or taco bell hire a pin-thin spokes whore like PARIS HILTON, who pretends she actually eats that food and makes me think I can be thin and still eat all that garbage.
.
I also think there should be a law against sneaking all kinds of high fructose corn syrup into breakfast bars and other snacks that are packaged as wholesome.
.
MAKE ALL THAT DECEPTIVE SHIT ILLEGAL FIRST.
Re: bird – BIRD i totally agree with you!! everyone thinks im anorexic or something when the truth is i have a fast metabolism. im sick of ppl thinking somethings wrong with me when im just naturally thin
this law has nothing to with banning ppl living the way they want so think again kids. anyway this law won't change anything, it's useless. It deals way more with punishing pro ana websites. this kind of web site which tell girls how to get skinnier (hmm puking is sexy girls, it'll make your teeth fall) & stuff.
who is that..? she wasn't TOO skinny
Don't think she has anorexia 
Oh please. Where's the anti-fatty legislation?
Re: Cristina – Shut up! You are totally missing the point. And no one cares why you are skinny.
obesity is on the rise! while france is at it, ban fat ppl too, they're just as gross if not more to look at than anorexic ppl. why stop there?
so tired of fat gay men telling me what 'beautiful' is with their hungry breath. just stop with the anorexics altogether. we know, fuck, I KNOW that NONE of the catwalk models eat.
THE IDEAL WOMAN:
5' 10"
115 LBS
40 DOUBLE D
25" WASTE
ALL OTHERS ARE UGLY FAT PIGS WHO WILL NEVER GET FUCKED, NOT EVEN IN THEIR DREAMS
ermm how do u promote thiness? quite obvious isnt it?? celebrity type people walking around 'promoting' their figure. sometimes perez you act like such a bloody dizzy blonde!!!
All I have to say is Seventeen magazine gave me my eating disorder when I was 15/16. It taught me everything my subconscious mind needed to know.
I'm just glad that they are not doing it here. Have the government say who is too fat or too thin.. then what? Maybe the French care more about it because they have government funded health care and they have to pay to treat the anorexia.
The same way they prosecute Bridgette Bardot for declaring that the Moslems are ruining France by bringing in their stone-age culture and slaughtering animals in their ceremonies. She's being prosecuted for the fourth or fifth time and faces jail time. For those of you who put down America.. ; No freedom of speech in France !!!!! You get JAILED for saying the wrong thing !!!
i think its a stupid law…way overstepping boundaries
but again the person who wrote this article for perezhilton.com really didnt sum it up right either
"is it genetic? what about peer pressure?"
do me a favor and don't put your MEDIA spin on this issue.
sorry this is coming from a psych grad student, so its a little troubling to hear people turn the issue of the Government overstepping its boundaries into another cry of "anorexia…what causes it?" too many factors go into it to even be able to write one article on it, nevertheless, a couple of "summing it up," lines.
Re: jackie –
A magazine does not give you anorexia. The insecurity is already in your head.
STUPID!!! parents should be the role models in children's life and they should raised a confident child who overlooks the 'media' and peer pressure. I'm not skinny and I'm not obese. I'm a size 5 (what a fatso, lol). Thanks to my mom who help me love myself even tho gradma called me gordita (lil fattie). And I never gave a f*ck to what my gradma said because I love me amd what I see in the mirror. The media is exploting this (perez included) because is a 'trend'. Are they going to ban fat people? will you have to get in a scale to enter mcdonalds? because extremes (either too skinny or too fat) is no bueno!!! I go to commercial auditions and a casting director said that I was too fat. She ask me if I could loose 40 pounds in 3 months 'but do it in a healthy way' and she would give me a commercial. I never talk to that crazy bitch since. People are out of control…