MADRID:

Excessively skinny fashion models will be barred from a major Madrid fashion show later this month for fear they could send the wrong message to young Spanish girls, local media reported. Madrid’s regional government, which is co-financing the Pasarela Cibeles, has vetoed aro-und a third of the models who took part in last year’s show because they weigh too little. The authorities collaborated with a Spanish health organisation to come up with a minumum body mass — a height-weight ratio — of 18 for the models.

Spanish daily ABC said it was the first time such restrictions had been imposed on a fashion sho. Several models at last ye-ar’s show provoked a row when they claimed their careers would be under threat if they put on wei-ght. Organisers said they wanted to “help ensure public opinion does not associate fashion shows with an increase in anorexia”.