On the Today Show this morning, representatives from the CFDA announced new industry-wide guidelines for models. The decision to make these regulations was spurred by last season's controversial crackdown on underweight, unhealthy cat walkers in Europe. While the American guidelines are not technically rules, the CFDA says they are the first attempt towards responsible self-regulation in the fashion industry. The CFDA says that it can't fully assume the responsibility for something as complex as eating disorders, but they do hope to begin campaign of awareness with these new standards.The new guidelines include:
- educate models, parents, designers and agencies on the early warning signs of eating disorders
- models must seek help if they have an eating disorder
- those with eating disorders cannot model without a doctor's approval
- supplying healthy meals, nutrition and fitness education backstage and on shoots
I mean come on -- fitness and nutrition education? I'm so sure that a bunch of underage girls who barely understand English are going to pay attention to some nutritionist when they have the option of doing a line of blow in the bathroom or popping a handful of amphetamines with their diet coke.
Way to bunt it, CFDA!