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Dying to be thin

The media’s obsession with weight has become a worldwide controversy. Every day the tabloids scrutinize women’s weight and fuel their insecurity.

As you may know, America’s Next Top Model host and Victoria Secret’s retired legendary model Tyra Banks photo was in the tabloids where the media raves about how she gained 40 pounds. She confronted media paparazzi of scandalous actions and the pressures of being thin on her show known as the Tyra Banks Show.

What kind of example is the media portraying for young girls? The average American model is 5’11” and 117 pounds. There is some indication that African-American girls and young women may be at particular risk for eating disorders because of poor body images caused by cultural attitudes that slander the physical characteristics of minorities.

Nicole Richie was also a recent guest on the Tyra Banks show and Banks tackled Nicole’s weight loss problem. Nicole denies the tabloids’ accusation that she is on the verge of dying; however, she admits to being tremendously thin.

Ana Carolina Reston, a well-known Brazilian model who worked for Giorgio Armani, died in November 2006 at the age of 23. According to NBC Philadelphia, Reston was 5 feet 8 inches tall and starved herself down to 88 pounds during her battle with anorexia. The model ate only tomatoes and apples at the end of her life.

The terrible thing is that media glamorizes this thin look. Some Web sites offer advice to achieve this look.

Fearing that young models strutting down the runways in New York City are too skinny, a state lawmaker proposes that weight standards be established for the fashion and entertainment industries. Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera wants to create a state advisory board to recommend standards and guidelines for the employment of child performers and models under the age of 18 to prevent eating disorders.

However, will these rules change anything? In the U.S., Banana Republic and Nicole Miller will introduce “sub-zero” sized fashions for women this fall, taking skinny sizes to a new low. So is thin really in? This answer remains to be seen.