The Federal Government is PHAT!
This is one of those rare times when a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen praises their government. Yes, kudos to the Federal Government for urging magazines to feature models that weigh more than paper and confess when photographs have been airbrushed under its national fashion industry code of conduct initiative.
Hallelujah! No more feeling guilty sifting through pages that are full of waif-thin models as I gorge on a Fillet O’ Fish meal. With Diet Coke, of course.
Under this plan Youth Minister Kate Ellis aims to extinguish the rising number of eating disorders plaguing children as young as six and have body image as a major priority of the new Office of Youth established by the Government recently. Essentially, advertisers and magazines would be encouraged to feature healthy women that don’t fly away with a slight gust of wind and disclose whether a model’s picture has been digitally enhanced.
“It’s about representing people of all different sizes and all different looks and ensuring people know that it’s OK not to (be skinny),” she said. “We need to have a transparent system where people realise the models in those pictures don’t look like that themselves and disclosing when there’s been altered or enhanced images.”
Of course, it took a woman to encourage this healthy change in the fashion industry, even if it is overdue. And it is overdue when you consider that Madrid banned overly thin models from working at high-end fashion shows about two years ago. In 2006 for example, organisers of a Madrid fashion show turned away 30 percent of women whose BMI was below the healthy range and opted for healthy models that don’t require medics on standby.
But it’s not just women who starve themselves until their ribcage protrudes more than their jaw. Manorexia is on the rise in Australia. Sunrise reported recently that young men are battling the bulge - more like over-conquering it - and that statistics show 30% of young people see body image as a serious issue. Of that, 3% of Australians are diagnosed with an eating disorder and 10% are boys or young men.
It’s comforting that it’s not just females that have image wars with themselves but it is sad in any case.
My adivce to those that want to be thinner, taller, smarter, bigger - you’re beautiful.
