Israel’s “Photoshop Law” Bans Too-Thin Models From The Runway And Magazines

A new law takes effect this month for Israeli models, requiring that individuals who want to work in print ads or runway shows must maintain a BMI of at least 18.5.

Joining other countries like Italy in the battle for healthy body image, Israel’s “Photoshop law” also demands that advertisers clearly indicate when ads featuring models have been digitally altered.

Initiated by fashion photographer Adi Barkan, the legislation is aimed at deterring the glorification of anorexia. A friend of Barkan’s, an anorexic model, weighed 60 pounds when she died in 2007, ABC news reports.

Defining beauty differently

While not everyone is on board with the new law – some suggest it penalizes models who are naturally thin due to genetics – many important Israeli influencers hope it can help address the eating disorder epidemic that exists in the country.

“We are all affected,” Barkan told the Jerusalem Post. “We wear black, do [drastic] diets and are obsessive about our looks. The time has come for the end of the era of skeletons on billboards and sickly thinness all over. The time has come to think about ourselves and our children and take responsibility for what we show them. Too thin is not sexy.”

Source: ABC News, The Jewish Week

Eating Disorder Self Test. Take the EAT-26 self test to see if you might have eating disorder symptoms that might require professional evaluation. All answers are confidential.

Find a Treatment Facility Near You

Click on a state below to find eating disorder treatment options that could be right for you.

Where do calls go?

Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: ARK Behavioral Health, Recovery Helpline, Alli Addiction Services.

By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.

CALL NOW FOR IMMEDIATE HELPCALL NOW FOR IMMEDIATE HELP800-776-3990Response time about 1 min | Response rate 100%
Who Answers?