Designers call for limits on models

A U.S. association of fashion designers said Friday that models younger than 16 should not work runway shows and that any who are diagnosed with eating disorders should get medical help and be barred from working without a medical professional’s approval.

The recommendations from the Council of Fashion Designers of America come after months of debate and concern regarding models who drop to unhealthy weight levels.

A model in Uruguay collapsed on the runway in August of heart failure, and her weight was pointed to as a factor.

A month later, at fashion week in Madrid, a ban was announced on models deemed too thin to be healthy.

A 5-foot-8 model who weighed less than 90 pounds died in Brazil in November, prompting a call for new guidelines in that country.

Friday’s CFDA recommendations also called for limitations on minors working past midnight and put a priority on work breaks and readily available snacks during photo sessions and backstage at shows.

Recommendations were drafted by a committee with members from the fashion industry and medical field and included the CFDA president, Diane von Furstenberg.