Eating Disorders and the Modeling Industry

The fashion industry has a significant role in creating cultural ideals. As a sociocultural risk factor, the extreme thin ideal plays a role in the development of eating disorders (EDs). Models experience increased appearance pressure to maintain the size requirements of the fashion industry. Models are oftentimes encouraged by their agents to use unhealthy weight controlling methodsWeight controlling methods to conform to such standards, especially prior to important fashion events, such as Fashion Weeks. Evidence shows that models receiving more frequent criticism toward their body shape or size engage more often in weight loss behaviors. Partial ED symptoms are significantly more frequent in this population compared to controls. However, the prevalence of EDs of clinical severity is not more common among fashion models. Certain potential protective factors against the development of EDs were identified, such as the duration of the modeling career, or higher body satisfaction linked to lower difference ratio between actual and preferred BMI. Future studies are needed to further assess the unique and complex background of eating and body image disorders among fashion models, including personal, interpersonal, and environmental factors. Protecting the physical and mental health of models by reinforcing international regulations is crucial.