Should the French make it illegal to encourage anorexia?

Education apparently isn't working. This battle of image has gone for at least a couple of generations and the models only get more and more unhealthier.

The weight of some models that shocked ten years ago look a lot more mainstream today, but no more healthier. Their are a lot of young girls that judge themselves based on these images.

If the fashion industry chooses not to regulate itself and know when its pushing to hard in one direction then maybe their should be a watchdog with some teeth.

Education and common sense are the key, not government regulation. Anorexic women (and men) just need to wake up and realize that starving themselves makes them look UGLY, not sexy or attractive. They end up being the complete opposite of their initial goal.

Anorexia is just one huge irony.

I THINK THEY SHOULDNT BECUASE ITS FREEDOM OF CHOICE WHAT TO SAY I MEAN IF THEY START MAKING IT ILLEGAL TO SAY SOMETHING I MEAN WHATS NEXT?

BUT I DO HAVE TO AGREE MODLES MAKE THEMSELFS THROW UP TO LOOK GOOD AND ITS DISGUSTING LOOKING AT THEYRE RIB BONES BACK BONES ETC THEY SHOULD MAKE A CERTATIN WEIGHT LIMIT FOR BEING A MODEL ITS FAIR ENOUGH

Well, if they are going to make it illegal to promote anorexia why don't they just make anorexia illegal? I can see it now... everytime you throw up a cop arrests you. Now that's a world I want to live in...

I think the fashion industry needs to discourage such unhealthy images, but I believe the government needs to stay out of it. Women should have the right to do what they want with their bodies, but the fashion industry needs to stop promoting malnourished bodies as the "ideal" beauty. This sends a horrible message to women, especially young girls and it only increases the number of women with unrealistic body images.

You are wrong Tracy. And even worse. You are throwing fuel on the fire that anorexia is okay or normal. Instructing someone how to kill themselves is not free speech, it's assisted suicide. These people are sick. They need help. Not instruction how to further their sickness.

I just hope the children don't grow up thinking that toothpick women are attractive.

I'm torn on the matter, initially I agreed with the French law, but I think it's a slippery slope restricting people's rights.

As consumers our money should dictate our feelings, but what couture designer (even regular old Target clothing lines) is promoting a healthy figure? I don't know of any boycotting of major labels. Even with more discussion and awareness of this unhealthy obsession with thinness I would argue that models are getting skinnier, or at least not changing.

So how do we bring about actual change? I think France's intent is not to restrict but to finally and firmly say that this image (and the means of bringing it about) is dangerous mentally and physically. Something has to change, perhaps France's solution is not the best way, but it's something.

I think that the French government has something going in the right direction because you can teach people all you want about the pros and cons about eating dissorders but it doesnt mean that someone has the common sense not to do it. And I also belive that it is not going against freedom of speach because freedom of speach does not mean to literaly starve your self until you weigh as much as a third grader.

Instead, why not regulate the size of the models?
As in, you can't have a BMI below 18. Freedom of speech should definitely not be taken; we're already having a hard enough time spreading such ideas, we don't need to take any steps backwards, but, regulating the size of the models is a step forward, since people are effected by what they see.

Society should embrace women with curves, and men with a figure, not an unhealthy lifestyle. I'll give a popular place as an example - look at Target. Do they have lots of clothes for petite girls or normal sized girls (Like it or not, petite is not the norm)?

why do we have to regulate everything? Some women, like myself are naturally skinny and we lead a healthy life with a balanced diet and exercise, yet we are labelled as anorexic, unhealthy people.

People need to grow up and realize and accept that they are living their life in their body, and stop associating and placing their self image and confidence with the models they see in the press. Live your own life and let the models who model for a living live their lives as they need to. Be happy with yourself and stop labeling skinny people and don't even try to ban a certain body shape.

The government can't make people do anything. They can't control the way women view themselves. What the government needs to address is how to fix the problem. Maybe the government should work on promoting positive self-image no matter how big or small a woman is. The government should be like, "Hey, you're all beautiful and we mean it!"

Nice Job, Like your Statement.

I don't think anyone should encourage anorexia, but you really can't tell people what or what not to do. However, there are ways to teaching young people what is right for their health and what can happen if you do certain bad things...also, it's hard when dealing about body image especially with all those skinny people on tv and stuff...

Plump chicks are hotter anyways. If their industry needs a catastrophic collapse because they don't know what the market wants, so be it.

the french are always there when they need you. i'm sure when its enough of a problem we'll get asked to bail them out. send em our liposuction fat, that'll plump em up

Sorry, I know people are going to want to read homophobia into this statement, but this is like the emperor's new clothes, it is politically incorrect to state the obvious.

As long as the fashion industry is controlled by gay men....anorexia is going to be the gold standard, for men and women. I don't know why this is true, but it is, and gay men who are willing to be honest will concur, this obsession with emaciated bodies is rife in the gay male community.

I don't think you can find an answer in either regulation or education, and once again Tracy, I object to your creation of a dichotomy to address this issue.

You agree with them cause your anorexic too. Funny if you ask me... However not funny the matter is

i think we need a more even balance of full figured models and skinny models. I might be biased because I am a FULL figured woman, but I think there would be less depression if the magazines and fashion industry told girls (and guys) that it's okay to be YOU, and to love YOUR skin! Telling me I'm morbidly obese and I will NEVER be beautiful....doesn't make me happy, OR make me want to but the product!!!....A balance would be nice! I wanna focus on the fashion, and not who could lose 100 lbs to look good in it!