Stick-thin women are to be banned from February's fashion shows in Milan as Italy becomes the first country to tackle unhealthy modelling.
The code of conduct, to be issued this month, means that models will be scrutinised for body mass indexes, which use height and weight measurements to determine body fat, before they are allowed to work. Any girl with a BMI of less than 18.5 will be sent home. Other measures are a minimum age limit of 16 for models and a ban on using make-up to achieve an 'anorexic look' with dark shadows under the eyes.
The guidelines have been drawn up in the wake of the outcry earlier this year over ultra-thin models on the catwalk. The row was given impetus after two models died suffering from eating disorders.
A panel of doctors, stylists, models and politicians has been hammering out the new strategy at the request of the Italian government.
Eating disorders are a growing problem in Italy. According to a report by Rome's La Sapienza University, Italian girls and young women are three times as likely to suffer from bulimia as from anorexia.