MPs hit back at 'stick thin' MTV models
Victoria Beckham, who has recieved considerable public attention over her weight, at the MTV Video Music Awards 2007
Wednesday, 03, Sep 2008 05:30
An MTV reality show called ModelMaker was attacked by MPs yesterday for "positively promoting" size-zero models.
An early-day motion has been moved by Liberal Democrat junior culture spokesman Richard Younger-Ross calling on MTV in the UK to not import the American show, or to "clearly re-edit" it to encourage healthy eating.
The show has already caused outrage in the United States, where its premise of challenging women between the ages of 17 and 24 to lose between 30 and 80 lbs in the hope of becoming a model provoked an outcry from public health and women's groups.
Mr Younger-Ross said: "I am appalled to see that the zero size model is once again being positively promoted.
"The message that you have to lose weight to look beautiful and become successful must be nipped in the bud."
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb added: "Over one million people in this country suffer from eating disorders.
"With this in mind, it seems highly irresponsible for TV stations to be encouraging dangerous behaviour and promoting unhealthy lifestyles."
An MTV spokeman told politics.co.uk: "This show is still in the very early pre-production stages.
"The content is yet to be finalised and it hasn't been either greenlit or scheduled. In terms of broadcast in the UK it is far to early to say as we haven't seen anything."