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" Models under the age of 16 could be banned from the catwalk at London Fashion Week following recommendations on how to improve the health of models. The Model Health Inquiry followed concerns about &amp;#039;size zero&amp;#039; models and related health issues including eating disorders. All of the recommendations will now be considered by the British Fashion Council, which has already adopted some of the 14 proposals. As well as the under-16 ban, the inquiry said that models taking part in London Fashion Week should provide a medical certificate showing they are in good health. Modelling agencies would be required to check certificates before taking models on to their books. Education and awareness of health issues must also be improved, the inquiry said this morning, with an &amp;#039;awareness programme&amp;#039; recommended &amp;#039;as a matter of urgency&amp;#039;. Backstage environments need to change to promote good health, with the inquiry suggesting that venues should provide good quality food and be demonstrably drugs-free. Baroness Kingsmill, chair of the Model Health Inquiry, said the evidence of the vulnerability of women in the fashion industry was &amp;#039;startling&amp;#039; and that &amp;#039;models are at high risk of eating disorders&amp;#039;. &amp;#039;There is a deep lack of knowledge about eating disorders in the fashion industry and a widespread desire amongst many of its constituents to radically improve the current situation,&amp;#039; she added. British Fashion Council chief executive Hilary Riva said: &amp;#039;We now have a broad range of recommendations to consider. &amp;#039;Some of these have already been adopted and others will take time, and further funding, to develop. We look forward to building upon the work completed to date to bring about further positive change.&amp;#039; The eating disorders charity Beat welcomed the inquiry&amp;#039;s recommendations, saying they are the first step towards addressing issues surrounding models&amp;#039; health. &amp;#039;We know that for any changes to be made, everyone involved in this important and vibrant industry, from the designer to the retailer, must tackle these issues,&amp;#039; said Beat chief executive Susan Ringwood. &amp;#039;It is only the industry acting as a whole that can make the difference that is so needed to ensure these vulnerable young people are looked after responsibly.&amp;#039; \u00A9 Adfero Ltd "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/news/a15716/inquiry-calls-for-under-16s-model-ban/>