Position Statements

Guidelines for the Fashion Industry

In the wake of several recent deaths worldwide of fashion models, the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), an international organization for eating disorder treatment, research, and education professionals, has called for industry and government support of a ban of extremely underweight models both on the runway and in fashion magazines.

“Too many models have died from eating disorders. These guidelines will help the industry take responsibility for the health and wellbeing of models,” states Dr. Eric van Furth, AED President and clinical director of the Center for Eating Disorders Ursula in Leidschendam, the Netherlands. “Recent tragic deaths highlight the urgent need for industry regulation,” he says.

 Eating disorders are triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including socio-cultural influences such as an extremely thin standard of female beauty upheld by the fashion industry. The AED urges the immediate adoption of guidelines by the fashion industry to protect models of all ages from dangerous health practices.

Dr. Cynthia Bulik, distinguished professor of eating disorders in the department of psychiatry and director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, urges the industry to open a dialogue with the AED stating “adherence to the AED Guidelines will save lives.”

Other Resources

Fast Facts about Eating Disorders »

View the Guidelines 

Brazilian Fashion Industry Guidelines 
The Brazilian Fashion Industry has developed recommendations and guidelines for the fashion industry. View the Brazilian guidelines in Portuguese »

The Brazilian Technical Commission of Groups Specialized in the Study and Treatment of Eating Disorders has developed an article highlighting the differences between the Brazilian guidelines and the AED guidelines for the fashion industry. View the Article »