For years, the modeling industry has relied on thin women to sell products ranging from cosmetics to clothing to cars to alcohol. Starting with Twiggy in the 1960s, on to Kate Moss in the 1980s and 90s (see below), many famous models have been not only thin, but skinny. Even today, the Association of Model Agents (AMA) says that female models should be around 34-24-34 inches, at least five feet eight inches tall, and 108 pounds on average.





Then, when bulimia and anorexia reared their ugly heads, society began blaming these models (and actresses, and whatever Paris Hilton is) for creating an unhealthy body image for young girls to emulate. Women’s groups started protesting the body shapes of famous dolls as well, and a general “war on skinniness” began.

As a reaction to this, in 2006, Dove Soap started the Dove Self-Esteem Fund and the Campaign for Real Beauty. The website contains a short film,
Evolution, that chronicles the transformation of a model from an average looking woman to one with supermodel looks, showing all the steps that have to be taken (including extensive photo manipulation) to achieve the look.

Nowadays, many women’s products – including Dove Soap – use “real-life models” who are not as thin as the usual type of model used in advertising, but look more like “everyday” people. (Dove’s ad campaign was called “Real Women Have Real Curves”.)

Unfortunately, “everyday” people are now fatter than ever. The United States has the highest rates of obesity in the world; in the past twenty years, obesity rates have doubled for adults and tripled for children and adolescents. This has led to the Fat Acceptance Movement, which maintains the idea of “Health at Every Size”.

Now we even have artwork like the photography mentioned in this article . The photography itself is here. It takes "Rubenesque" to a whole new level.

Now, I understand that this is a product of the backlash against the emaciated models and actresses that are so prevalent in our society, but the opposite extreme isn't healthy either, and it pisses me off when people glorify obesity just to make a political statement. Fat is not "beautiful". Fat is fat. Fat is unhealthy. Fat leads to (in alpha order): asthma, cancer, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, dementia, diabetes, gastric reflux, gout, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, infertility, menstrual disorders, obstructive sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, pulmonary embolism, stroke, urinary incontinence, varicose veins, and death.

Obviously, the other extreme isn’t healthy either. Anorexia and bulimia can lead to: anemia, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, digestive problems such as Crohn’s disease, endocrine disorder, gastric reflux, infertility, kidney failure, liver failure, low blood pressure, menstrual disorders, muscle atrophy, nerve deterioration, paralysis, peptic ulcers, poor circulation, reduced immune system function, seizure, vitamin and mineral deficiency, and death. (And, specifically in the case of bulimia, teeth erosion and gum disease from all the puking. Ew.)

So, clearly, NO extreme promotes a desirable body image. How about we start using models who clearly exercise, but who don’t show bone jutting through skin. Women who may be closer to 36-28-38 than 34-24-34. Women who diet most of the time, but still let themselves have a cookie or two when they feel like it. That way, young girls – hell, ALL of us – can strive to be what we all should be. You know. Healthy.