The modeling and fashion industry has been a source of longtime debate as the desired body type for models can be linked to eating and mental disorders.

Impacts are even felt here.

“I definitely think these standards are negatively impacting how people think of themselves. The idea of the ‘perfect’ person is presented through models, yet it is nearly unattainable. I think it can cause young people to set almost impossible and often unhealthy standards for themselves,” said Junior Fiona Murphy, a fashion design student.

Young people are constantly having images of models shoved at them, which can be damaging to people’s sense of self-worth. Studies have shown that constant comparison to digitally altered, unrealistic and unattainable goals lead to mental and physical issues. The societal pressure to achieve the ‘ideal’ can lead to serious issues, especially in young girls.

Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia and dysmorphia are linked to the impacts of these visuals. Out of mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate. It is common for these disorders to be accompanied by other mental illnesses like depression and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). The South Carolina Department of Mental Health reported that an estimated 8 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder.

A study performed by Todd Morrison and Emer Sheahan published in the Psychology Of Women Quarterly concluded that “sociocultural norms and values in Western societies, particularly those portrayed in the mainstream media, are often proposed as major contributors to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among women.”

Jennifer Pfeifer who is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Oregon said, “Compared with the young adults, the study suggests that the teen’s self-image is largely based on how she believes others see her.” These young teens are just discovering who they see themselves as and can’t develop a separate identity than what they aspire to be.

France has banned models who are under a healthy weight; aspiring models will need a doctor’s note indicating that their BMI is at a healthy level. France’s law is targeting unrealistic body images and eating disorders. Marisol Touraine, the Minister of Health and Social Affairs in France, has stated that “Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem that can impact health-related behaviour.” The ruling also is pointed at an epidemic of anorexia; about 40,000 people in France are affected by the disease.

“I feel like they’re advertising you need to be skinny to be beautiful,” said Hope Pulsifer, a freshman in fashion design. She felt that the industry sets ridiculous standards. Negative connotations like self-body issues, self-esteem and how you see yourself stem from these standards. Pulsifer feels that the push for regulation of the modeling industry will move us forward, resulting in positive effects and higher self esteem, in people all over the world.

“It’s not solely the modeling industry that sets ridiculous standards but also the advertising aspect of it and how the models are presented as ‘perfect’,” Murphy said. She hopes the industry will become healthier and that “the ideas the industry sells of the ‘perfect’ person will become healthier as well.” She doesn’t know if it will affect her personally, but wants the “industry to pay more attention to the unhealthy image they are promoting and how it can affect such a wide variety of people.”