There is a lot been written about both obesity and anorexia looking models. Recently, a French model Isabelle Caro died of anorexia. Just because a model is thin or very thin, doesn’t mean she’s necessarily ill or has an eating disorder.
Our overweight problem
I’ve been backstage at many fashion shows both as a writer and because one of my clients, Federico, does the hair for many of the shows. These models are very young, in some cases 12 or 13 years old. Up close, they’re thin as some children are, but they don’t look unhealthy and they do eat.
When Twiggy was modelling during the 70s, she was very thin but not unhealthily so. And with age, she put on some weight as most women do. Incidentally, she still looks great.
I find it ironic that so many people are so upset about a few thin models when 66 % of the population is overweight and 33 % obese. For every one person who dies of anorexia (and this is a serious disease), many more die of obesity-related illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and certain cancers and obesity is the biggest health problem that this country faces.
I have a friend who admits to being about three and a half stone overweight. Whenever we go out to dinner together, she makes pointed comments about how much I eat. She doesn’t understand how I can be so thin (I weigh six and a half stone, but I’m only five feet tall and very small-boned) and still eat “so much”.
Actually I don′t eat “so much” – I eat a normal meal, no more than she does. But most people think thin people must have an eating disorder and are amazed when they see us eating.
My friend Leslie, on the other hand, is built like a fashion model. At five feet six inches and very slender, she’s absolutely gorgeous. And she has a very healthy appetite. She also has a very good metabolism.
As serious as anorexia is, and it’s very serious, I’m much more concerned about the major health problem of the West – obesity.
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