For years the world has discussed the support that the fashion industry allegedly gives to an unhealthy lifestyle by hiring incredibly thin models to walk the most important runways from around the globe. But now we are facing a whole new controversy: the shocking decision of the French government to take a stand against this practice by banning too thin models from working.

First of all, lets look at the facts regarding this legislation: On Friday, April 3rd, the National Assembly approved a legislation banning excessively skinny models, and it also approved an amendment targeting websites that condone or encourage extreme thinness and unhealthy dietary restrictions. The legislation also demands that advertisements must carry a message stating when images have been photoshopped or manipulated. People who fail to follow these new guidelines could face time in prison and fines.

It is important to note that this bill will now head to France’s Senate, and if it is passed there, then it needs to be approved by a parliamentary review board; so it still has a long way to go before anyone has to really panic about it.

The most controversial element of this legislation is that it dictates that any model looking to be hired will have to present a medical certificate showing that her BMI (Body Mass Index) is not below a certain level. Since other countries like Israel and Spain have already approved similar legal measures involving a BMI of 18-18.5 or higher, we are making the assumption that France will use the same levels as a standard. It should also be noted that the World Health Organization considers individuals with a BMI below 18.5 to be “underweight and at risk of being malnourished”.

The issue with BMI is that it is a calculation implicating only weight and height, so it doesn’t really take in consideration details like mental health, family history regarding weight and complexion, and the fact that there are different muscle and body types. When you get into the eating disorders topic, you must evaluate many different elements besides BMI, including the loss of hair, teeth problems, and other common signs apart from simply being “too thin”.

While the French government is sure showing a lot of conviction in the fight against eating disorders and the impact they have, especially among teenagers, I believe that their approach is incorrect. Sure, there are plenty of studies that clearly show the connection between exposure to images featuring the “super thin” ideal model or individual and adverse effects like depression, shame, insecurity, low self-esteem, and of course the dreaded eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia; but this legislation is taking an astoundingly simplistic approach to finding a solution, and it could potentially do more harm than good.

It seems like governments and health-related organizations haven’t realized that the smartest move for them to improve their positive results regarding eating disorders, obesity, low self-esteem, and these type of issues, is to get the advertising, media, and fashion industry involved, instead of constantly trying to make a case of “they are wrong, we are right”. Exceptionally successful campaigns like Dove’s “Campaign for Real Beauty” is a great example of what can be accomplished by building a bridge between business/sales, and socially conscious strategies to “fight the good fight” for healthier, happier individuals.

I must say that in a general basis I do agree with the fact that models are getting way too thin, and sometimes they do look unhealthy, and as a member of the industry, and as a consumer, it is hard for me to support this image of perfection that involves looking like one of those “unhealthy-looking” models. On the other hand, I believe that these issues should be handled taking every single element into consideration, especially mental health and the promotion of healthy habits. Instead of constantly fighting against these problems we should be fighting to encourage individuals to take charge of their life and health, and create spaces where people can get motivated and educated, where people can share experiences and get specialized treatment when needed. We need to begin thinking about “fighting for” instead of “fighting against”.