About Eating Disorders:

1. What is the definition of an eating disorder?
   
   

   An eating disorder is a mental illness comprised of a specific set of symptoms. This includes abnormal eating behaviours such as binging and purging, taking diuretics and laxatives. It also involves severe dietary restrictions such as not eating for a period of eight hours on a regular basis with the intent of losing weight. 

   Individuals suffering from eating disorders have very specific psychological beliefs and attitudes about their own weight. Most importantly an individual with an eating disorder will base their self-esteem on control of their own weight. One of the major physical consequences to having an eating disorder is having abnormal or infrequent periods. 

   In the UK, 60% of people suffering from eating disorders can be described as having a partial or atypical eating disorder and such individuals do not fit within tightly defined disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Out of all categories of mental health disorders, eating disorders has the highest mortality rate.

   
   
2. What is anorexia? What percentage of the UK population suffers from anorexia?
   
   

   Anorexia is a very specific eating disorder; individuals will have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 17 ½ and their psychological beliefs will include extraordinary fears about gaining weight.

   Approximately, 0.3% of the UK population and most Western countries suffer from anorexia. 

   
   
3. What is bulimia? What percentage of the UK population suffers from bulimia?
   
   

   Bulimia is also a very specific eating disordering but only includes individuals that are a normal weight or are overweight.  Those suffering from bulimia binge and purge more than three times a week with the intent of controlling their weight.

   Much like other Western countries, 1% of the population in the UK suffers from bulimia.

   
   
4. What percentage of models suffer from eating disorders?
   
   

   There is no current data available on the number of UK models suffering from eating disorders. There is however a study currently being conducted by UK eating disorders experts.

   
   
5. Does the term ‘size zero’ have any meaning in terms of eating disorders?
   
   

   An eating disorder is a mental illness not a physical shape. The term ‘size zero’ does not necessarily describe someone with an eating disorder; individuals come in various shapes and sizes that may be deemed healthy or unhealthy but the vast majority of people in the UK could not be healthy and achieve a size-zero shape.

   
   
6. What is BMI? Is it a good measure of an individual’s health?
   
   

   Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation of kilograms / centimetres squared. This is a measure of how much weight we carry per centimetre of our bodies. It is a fair measure of good health but it is not perfect. For instance, BMI is not a good measure for athletes because muscle weighs more than fat. Individuals suffering from obesity may also be better measured by waist circumference.

   
   
7. What is optimum BMI? Should this measure be applied to anyone under 18 years old?
   
   

   The optimum BMI for an adult is between 18 ½ to 25. This measurement should not be applied to anyone that is still growing, thus young people under 16 years old in particular should be measured by a ‘weight for height’ ratio. This type of measurement factors in the young persons age and potential for growth.

   The most significant indicator of an eating disorder is irregular or infrequent periods.

   
   

About London Fashion Week:

1. How often does London Fashion Week take place?
   
   London Fashion Week takes place twice a year, once in February and once in September.
   
   
   
2. Who runs London Fashion Week?
   
   London Fashion Week is owned and organised by the British Fashion Council.
   
   
   
3. What is the role of the British Fashion Council?
   
   The British Fashion Council is a non-profit making limited company. It aims, with the help of industry benefactors, to help British designers to develop their businesses and to promote British fashion design worldwide
   
   
   
4. How are the catwalk models who take part in London Fashion Week chosen?
   
   The casting for each show at London Fashion Week is usually done by the show’s casting director in conjunction with the designer and the stylist. They will work together to come up with a profile of the type of model they are looking for to show the collection and they will be aware of the available budget. Once the profile has been compiled, it will go out to a number of model agencies, each of which represents a group of models. In response, the model agencies will send packs of cards with models that fit the profile and budget.  Models will then go and see the casting director and/or stylist and designer who may try the clothes on the models and will then select the models they want to appear on the catwalk at London Fashion Week.
   
   
   
5. Do the models who take part in London Fashion Week have to fulfil any specific criteria?
   
   No, there are no specific criteria that have to be fulfilled.
   
   

6. How is London Fashion Week regarded internationally?
   
   London is internationally recognised as one of the four leading fashion cities.
   
   

General questions:

1. Why does the fashion industry “prefer” thin models?
   
   Historically long limbed, tall models are better at displaying the designer clothing.
   
   
   
2. What is size zero?
   
   Size zero is a US women’s catalogue size equivalent to UK size 4.
   
   
   
3. What has the fashion industry in other countries done to address concerns about the health of catwalk models?
   
   Madrid: organisers of Madrid Fashion Week, in cooperation with the Madrid regional government, produced a code of conduct which restricted models with a BMI less than 18.5 from participating in the catwalk fashion shows. www.munimadrid.es/

   Paris: the French Fashion Federation plans to introduce a voluntary charter for the fashion industry with the aim of promoting awareness about the health risks of being too thin. www.modeaparis.com/vf/index.html

   New York: the Council of Fashion Designers of America Health Initiative made several recommendations with the aim of creating fashion industry awareness around the signs and health risks associated with eating disorders.  www.cfda.com/

   Milan: the Italian Ministry of Youth and Sport promoted the Italian Fashion Industry Manifesto for Self-Regulation Against Anorexia which suggests restricting models with a BMI less than 18.5 from participating in the catwalk fashion shows. www.pogas.it/.../manifesto.html
   
   The British Fashion Council is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
   
   

4. What is the UK fashion industry’s contribution to the overall economy?
   
   The fashion industry in London is a key driver of  both  the retail and  tourism sectors in the UK. The retail value of orders generated at London Fashion Week each season is estimated to be in the region of £40 million. It is estimated that overall London Fashion Week generates over £100 million per annum for the London economy.
   
   
   
5. Who is the governing body for the UK fashion industry?
   
   The UK fashion industry does not have an overarching governing body at present.
   
   
   
6. Are there any industry bodies that represent models?
   No, there are none at present.