Thread: Australia: Do obese models send the wrong message?

Australia debate over overweight models in Sports Illustrated show





A debate has emerged in Australia about whether overweight models who appear on the catwalk are glorifying obesity.

The debate follows the appearance of plus-size models in a Sports Illustrated swimsuit catwalk show.

An opinion article in Sydney's Daily Telegraph criticised the use of larger models as "irresponsible", while a health expert said they promoted a "dangerous" message about health.

However, other experts say the catwalk should represent all body shapes.

The debate was ignited after columnist Soraiya Fuda wrote: "If the fashion industry decides to stop using models who appear to have starved themselves to skin and bones - as they should - they shouldn't then choose to promote an equally unhealthy body shape."

However, speaking on local television, Sports Illustrated editor MJ Day said: "We have made a very positive statement that beauty is not 'one size fits all'."



Health experts have also pitched in on the debate.

Dr Brad Frankum, president of the Australian Medical Association in New South Wales, has questioned why obese models do not cause a similar backlash to severely underweight models.

"If someone was walking down the catwalk smoking a cigarette there would be an outcry because that would be a very unhealthy message," Dr Frankum told the BBC.

"Similarly if we send very overweight or obese people down the catwalk modelling clothes, what it is saying, in a way, is that we are celebrating obesity. I think that is dangerous because we know it is a dangerous health condition."

Dr Frankum said it was clear that some models in the Sports Illustrated show were obese.

However Prof John Dixon, head of clinical obesity research at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, says models should represent everyone in the community.

"With it being normal to be overweight in our community and so many - 28% of Australians being obese - it is quite offensive to say that obese people should not be on a catwalk," he said.

A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 25 and 30 falls within the overweight range, according to Prof Dixon.

He said anyone, including overweight and obese people, could look great on the catwalk.

"We know the stigma associated with obesity is so strong that we should respect people who are obese for their ability to feel good, look good and dress well," he said.
Caution urged

Model Stefania Ferrario, who is the face of Melbourne's fashion week, said the industry should not focus on extremes.

"I am all for diversity in models of all different sizes and shapes, but I think it is irresponsible that there are not more models of healthy weight range on the catwalk," she told the BBC.

The 24-year-old, who has spoken of struggling with eating disorders, shuns being labelled plus-size.

"Anything above an Australian size eight is labelled plus-size and the average woman is 12 or 14 and it is very misleading to young girls," she said.

"It implies that these women are still not slim enough."



Ferrario said she had stopped modelling for a time after falling into the "overweight category" on her BMI.

"I felt really uncomfortable and unhealthy and I basically did not model for that period of time because I do want to promote a healthy mind and body," she said.

Dr Frankum said it was important to promote healthy lifestyles.

"I'm not sure that we need obese models in swimsuits or lingerie to promote messages about people feeling good about themselves. I don't think it works that way," he said.

"Yes we need to embrace people of all shapes and sizes but at the same time strive for people to be more active and fitter and make better eating choices."

The Australian Medical Association is the chief professional body representing doctors in Australia.

Australia debate over overweight models in Sports Illustrated show - BBC News

Im estimating it'll take about 5 more years for all this PC retardation fad idiocy to fall off the radar in favor of somewhat normalcy.

Its fashionable currently. Fashions don't last.

This should be in world news.

It's in the lounge as there will surely be some crass comments.

Are those ''models'' for real? Or did they just walk round some mall and pick any old fatso at random?

The first pic is downright disgusting.

I didn't read - but the first photo - I spanked one out to the one on the right

Fat birds need loving too.

An Indian friend of mine works for a well known booze manufacturer and before Bkk was posted in Lagos for 2yrs.

He lusts after big fat wobbly black ladies, 2 at a time.

I have a black mate and he only goes for super sized women, says they are the only women who can take him. In fairness some of his tarts have had pretty faces and decent personalities to compensate for their large frames but not for me.

Originally Posted by baldrick

I didn't read - but the first photo - I spanked one out to the one on the right

She's as bad as the other two. On the opposite extreme. She's anorexic.

It's a way to help self indulgent western women feel good about their bodies after gorging themselves on KFC/McDonalds and gaining a body shape similar to a hippo.

^Hippo? No, 28% of New South Wales perhaps. I meant. .....

Whales...

Note that 28% are obese, but that there is an unstated % who are overweight.

Basically, one can assume that Australia has a growing number of lard-buckets, and very few people who are of normal, healthy BMI

BBW do it for me.

Funny innit. We have had years of indoctrination that images of violence (film, advertising) are bad. Ditto images of smoking and drinking as they promote unhealthy liife styles. But fat chicks as, literally, "models", no problem.

Originally Posted by Slick

Im estimating it'll take about 5 more years for all this PC retardation fad idiocy to fall off the radar in favor of somewhat normalcy.

Its fashionable currently. Fashions don't last.

Agree. Sort of.
It's a case of the pendulum swinging the other way. But from now on, catwalk models will represent "most people" and most people are not anorexic but rubenesque.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

BBW do it for me.

Yeah, when fresh and young (20's). They're great and grateful.
As they age, they don't do it for me whereas a slimish MILF could.

^^ The swing away from anorexic models is probably a good thing. Maybe towards a more "healthy" looking model. But on the other side, "rubenesque" woman still buy clothes and are becoming a bigger target audience for advertisers as they become more of the norm.

Are all Aussie women getting fatter? I remember watching the Oz soap series "Prisoner, Cell Block H" back in the day, and thinking 'if they ever bring back hanging for Lesbianism, they're going to need some strong fucking rope'.

...and here is the editor of the swimsuit issue. Need we say more?



Not all women can be slim and some do try harder than others. But at least they try...

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Not all women can be slim and some do try harder than others. But at least they try...

"At least they try?
Do you mean to be healthy, or to live up to your ideal image?
I think this is the underlying issue of the thread.

Obese is not always a medical condition, it is a lifestyle choice. Filling one's face with calories regardless of the outcome.

It is a simple equation calories - calories out. If there is an imbalance either way.

Women don't have to eat for two all the time?

Originally Posted by VocalNeal

Obese is not always a medical condition, it is a lifestyle choice. Filling one's face with calories regardless of the outcome.

It is a simple equation calories - calories out. If there is an imbalance either way.

Women don't have to eat for two all the time?

No question about it.

The question is, should women diet or at least eat sensibly, and if so for what motivation; your desired image or their health?

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

BBW do it for me.

personally i don't get the BBW thing, but hey, good for you.


and on the topic of the fashion show itself.... why shouldn't women of all sizes be able to see what they'll look like in the lastest styles of bathing suits?

The question is, should women diet or at least eat sensibly, and if so for what motivation; your desired image or their health?

Although I make light of lard-buckets, I concede that it is not easy to lose weight when 95% of the products in the supermarket are pre-packaged crap, and stuffed with sugar.

Since going on a healthy diet, almost everything in my local supermarket is no longer purchased by me, because it is - to put it bluntly - totally unhealthy shite, stuffed full of sugar, sweet flavourings, nice colours, nice shapes etc.

Pre-packaged and processed food manufacturers are as bad as cigarette manufacturers, when it comes down to consideration of their customers' health.