Stick figures on the runway

Body image is constantly an issue for girls especially to those who are pre-teen, and teenagers. They are always comparing themselves to how the models on the runway are skinny and wishing to be that thin. Who knew that such young women would get the idea that being thin would look good and feel good.
But how skinny is too skinny when it comes to models on the runway? How far do these models go to harm their bodies? And is the media an influence to young women?

                                    The models
The ideal body of a female model is thin and tall. It's not only about the fashion on the runway or catwalk, but we also see the models on the runway. Many thoughts runs through a mind of a female teen. They know when they see a super skinny model on television or magazine or anywhere. Do they instantly think 'Oh she's too skinny'?? or 'She's just perfect'??  'Skinny' models had became the hot topic when the global news media got hold of the public mess the industry stumbled into after two South American models died of anorexia nervosa in 2006. This made it big into the model industry suddenly making the trade groups around the world nervous thinking about the models eating habits.
The organizers of the fashion industry wants to project to the public that the models are all healthy and beautiful in able to put them on the runway. Otherwise they're going to send out the wrong messages to those who want to follow in the footsteps of being a fashion model. "Unsatisfied bodies will lead girls to participate in unhealthy ways to try to control their weight", said Sarah Murnen, body-image researcher, professor of psychology at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. I'm sure that they don't want to mislead girls who want to become fashion models because the fashion industry is not selling that. Although some models are born naturally thin because of their genes. They might be bending over or doing something that others are able to see their rib cages, but that doesn't mean they are anorexic.
They don't put out models that looks like they are going to give a bad representation.. The models job is to just model for fashion. Not to just bring a skinny sign to the world.

Harming their bodies

Some models may not know that their body is at an unhealthy look. It starts off by eating healthy until it turns into an eating disorder and that's when they look into the mirror thinking that they're fine. It also affects their way of thinking - having an obsessive fear of gain weight. Sometimes its the designers who asks for a slimmer body and so the model feel pressured to become thinner. An example of this case, now 47 Patti Lawrence. She was a top model and winner of the most beautiful legs in Britain, who was on an eating disorder that took a little more than 20 years. Patti was asked by an Italian designer that she would have to lose weight in order to fit into the clothes. This made her obsess about exercising to get to the right weight.
Models just don't realize how it's affecting their bodies until someone tells them that they're not okay and that they seek help. But in some cases, it becomes too extreme they end up in a fatal death. 
However, the council of fashion designers have workshops on eating disorder in America, recommend that models under 16 should not be allowed on the runway, offer healthy snacks backstage and if they want to continue modelling they should get professional help.

The media

Of course the media plays a huge role in a teenagers life. Everywhere they go, they can see models in perfect bodies on billboards, magazines, internet, and especially the television. It effects more females than males as they start to closely compare themselves to models and their self-esteem deteriorates. On the media, they must have beautiful and slim models to advertise products. Not all people see them as just beautiful and there for the show. Through those young women eyes, they are 'role' models to them. They are being taught that if they do not meet the standard then they should diet, exercise and have expensive makeup. But often these girls are going through their puberty so they are growing. And if this is stopped by all those causes, then they are damaging their bodies and health.

Now with the new 'teen' vogue version, there is always that article suggesting how to 'lose that extra fat' by exercising and eating these type of foods than those fatty foods. What if they don't need to do all that because they are perfect? Through a women's mind, they are never perfect. No wonder teenagers are trying to glam them self up. And with the television which adds to media influences, they can see a clear almost 360 degrees of a models body, getting an idea of what kind of bodies are accepted in the fashion model industry. Particularly in music videos, as teenagers listen and watch more music at this age which they get more absorbed into.

Overall, everyone especially to young women should really love their body. Not all women are born to have thin bodies and that's nothing wrong at all. Even some women do wish they're slightly more curvy. But in the end, everyone has to accept their own body. Thy only way to have an absolutely healthy body is to exercise regularly and eating healthy. Its simple, but its not to be taken too far. Weight shouldn't be the number one priory and the center of importance in life. Not everything we see on the billboards are real. There's always going to be that pretty model on the magazine, touched-up on photoshop which female teens don't realise. On the other with media, as well having unhealthy bodies appear on television, television can also promote healthy realistic models with real beauty and flaws, for print and advertisements.
It's really the inside that matters. Not on the outside.



References:

Trebay, G. (2007, February 6). Looking Beyond the Runway for Answers on Underweight Models. Retrieved from  http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/06/fashion/shows/06DIARY.html

Brennan, C. (2007, July 4). Eating disorders: a model's story. Retrieved from http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/teenagehealth/eating_disorder.htm

Critchell, S. (2009, August 14).  Super Skinny Models: This Is What The Fashion Industry Calls "Curves"?. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/14/thin-models-fashion-week_n_125919.html

 Wilson, E. (2006, September 21).  When Is Thin Too thin? Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/fashion/21MODELS.html?pagewanted=all

Henry, L. (2006, September 25). Anorexic Models are Banned from Fashion Shows. Retrieved from http://lorihenry.suite101.com/anorexic-models-a6855