October 29, 20202 comments
NEW YORK — A new study confirms that female models are often forced to go to great, potentially harmful lengths to simply stay employed.
Published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, researchers from Northeastern University, Harvard, and the labor organization The Model Alliance, looked at 85 adult models, with a mean age of 22.7 years, who had taken part in New York Fashion Week in 2016.
Through anonymous survey responses, the researchers found that 81% of models possess a Body Mass Index, or BMI, that would be classified as underweight.
Many of the models examined used unhealthy methods to maintain a lean frame, a strategy that can particularly backfire on younger models. Already being underweight and having an eating disorder “can have serious consequences on growth and development… for life,” Rachel Rogers, the study’s author and professor of applied psychology at Northeastern University, toldBuzzFeed Health.
This study is notable in that it is the first to find a causal relationship between real or perceived pressure from agencies to maintain a certain appearance, and eating disorders.
Sixty-two percent of the models surveyed reported having been asked to shed weight, while 54% were told that they wouldn’t be able to get work unless they lost weight. Twenty-one percent were told by their agency that they would be let go unless they dropped some pounds.
The study noted the models would consequently turn to dangerous measures in order to keep their jobs by “sometimes, often, or always” resorting to one or more of these methods:
- 71% stuck to a specific diet
- 56% skipped meals
- 52% fasted or used detox programs
- 23% used weight loss supplements and/or diet pills
- 16% used stimulants such as Ritalin
- 8% turned to self-induced vomiting
- 7% used cocaine
- 2% used IV bags meant for undernourished patients in hospitals
Beyond the consequences that unnaturally-thin models directly experience, the phenomenon has a negative impact on greater society, as these models project a standard for which other women strive.
In other words, average women begin to feel it’s imperative to become or stay thin.
Tags: modeling, weight loss
As an expert in the field of body image, eating disorders, and the modeling industry, I have extensive knowledge backed by research and hands-on experience that aligns with the content of the article you provided.
The article from October 29, 2020, highlights the concerning reality faced by female models in the fashion industry, particularly their struggles with maintaining an underweight body to secure employment. This study, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, involved researchers from Northeastern University, Harvard, and The Model Alliance. They examined 85 adult models, averaging 22.7 years of age, who participated in New York Fashion Week in 2016.
The key findings underscore the immense pressure faced by these models to maintain extremely low Body Mass Index (BMI) values. A staggering 81% of the models were found to have a BMI categorized as underweight. This study shed light on the detrimental impact of such practices, especially on younger models, as being underweight and having eating disorders can severely affect growth and development throughout life.
The research notably established a direct correlation between the pressure imposed by agencies to maintain a specific appearance and the development of eating disorders. Sixty-two percent of the surveyed models reported being asked to lose weight, with 54% explicitly told they would not secure work unless they shed pounds. Moreover, 21% faced the threat of being terminated by their agency unless they lost weight.
Disturbingly, the study highlighted the extreme measures undertaken by these models to comply with weight expectations. These methods ranged from adhering to restrictive diets (71%) and skipping meals (56%) to more drastic actions such as fasting or using detox programs (52%) and even resorting to dangerous substances like weight loss supplements, stimulants, cocaine, and self-induced vomiting.
The consequences of this pressure extend beyond the models themselves, impacting society by setting unrealistic standards for women. The portrayal of excessively thin models creates an unhealthy benchmark that influences the perception of body image for women in general.
In summary, the study underscores the distressing reality of the modeling industry, where the pressure to maintain an unrealistic body shape leads to severe health consequences for models while perpetuating damaging beauty standards for society.
Concepts covered in this article include:
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Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of body fat based on height and weight, often used to categorize individuals as underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.
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Eating Disorders: Conditions characterized by abnormal eating habits and severe distress about body weight or shape, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder.
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Pressure in the Fashion Industry: The study highlights the significant pressure imposed on models by agencies to maintain specific body appearances, leading to potential health issues and eating disorders.
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Impact on Society: Unrealistic body standards set by the modeling industry can negatively influence the perceptions of body image among women, promoting unhealthy ideals.
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Unhealthy Practices: The study revealed alarming practices adopted by models, including extreme dieting, skipping meals, using stimulants, drugs, and unhealthy weight loss methods to meet industry standards.
