“I think they have shirked in their responsibility to do this for far too long!

Its not only women, but young girls too who need to be shown that you don't have to be stick thin to look good. While many may aspire to be thinner - size 16 is the average clothes size and to see clothes on a more 'normal' sized model will perhaps psychologically make women feel better about themselves.

Perhaps by imposing a minimum BMI will make safer the model industry and cause less stress and illness to those employed to maintain sometimes unhealthily low weights.

When this has been tackled - perhaps censorship of music videos? Watching Lady Gaga and Rhianna in outfits which are underwear at most is just as damaging. Why do they have to sing next-to-naked?!”

“333, Couldn't agree more.
Us Over size 10 are frowned upon, but when you go shopping, there are size 6/8 then 20/22
left, all the "normal" sizes have gone!
The skin stick woman has gone.
the scary thing is the obese women, where do they get there clothes from?
Primark, i bet. then try to squeeze into them...”

“I was born too late - Marilyn Monro, Jayne Mansfield and Diana Dors all had bosoms and hips, but now the world doesn't like feminine flesh. I'm a contemporary of Twiggy and looking back at 60's fashion, with our big eyes and long lashes and short skirts and long socks, we must have been giving paedophiles a great time back then pretending to be tiny little girls with sophisticated tastes. The fashion industry has always been on the sleazy side, I guess.

Some women are naturally slim or have no difficulty remaining so, and provided they can eat a balanced diet and are healthy I admire them, even envy them as I will never be a size 10 again. I eat a balanced diet (but probably too much of it) and am healthy, I haven't bothered the NHS for years, but the weight never goes away, so I shop at Evans.... all their models are real women. Size 0 models could only wear my jeans with one model in each leg! Size 0 is only possible if you starve (particularly if you are tall as well), and a walking skeleton is not attractive if you meet her in the street. It was quite wrong of the rag trade to use size 0 models. Size10 or 12 is much more feminine, but maybe less flattering to the rags!”

“An interesting debate- interesting to see it's only women responding, too.

I think Krystal makes some very good points re music videos. It hardly sends out a positive message to young women that you need to dress/behave like that to sell records/be successful.

In my opinion a minimum BMI would only be succesful if properly and uniformly enforced, ie ALL model agencies/shows have to use women (and men, let's not forget eating disorders can affect men too) of a minimum BMI with no organisation about to fit between the gaps, as it were. My understanding of the current situation is that many agencies say they won't accept models with a BMI of less than whatever but in reality they do, or will continue to work with models whose BMI drops. I think people must be careful to make sure you don't get a situation where models of a low BMI just go elsewhere and therefore the problem isn't actually dealt with.”

“Cher - 'turn back time' .......happy days!”

“Ivor, I'm sure you have plenty of intelligent things to add to this debate, why don't you say something useful?!”