The international fashion industry has drawn criticism for stressing the super-thin look. Concerns about anorexia have grown in France, as well as around the world, especially since the reportedly anorexia-related deaths of several South American models in 2006, including Brazilian Ana Carolina Reston. Proving the size 0 debate is still very much an issue and since Milan was the only fashion capital to prohibit skinny models catwalking within fashion shows, professionals from the French Fashion Federation, the National Union of Modeling Agencies and the French Advertising Standards Authority gathered Wednesday to sign a charter designed to promote body diversity.

Key members of the French fashion industry signed a government-backed charter aimed at fighting anorexia and promoting healthy body images. The document asked signatories to work toward "a diversity of body representations" and "not to show images of people that could help promote a model of extreme thinness." Although guidelines have been in place in France since the 1980s to regulate the French modeling agencies, including mandatory medical visits for models under 16, these norms have failed to be complied with so far.

The charter was signed by the French Couture Federation, the French Federation for Women's Pret-a-Porter and the Union of Modeling Agencies, as well as some representatives of advertising and media. The next step against eating disorders is to go before France's parliament this month, while there has already been a bill proposed to convict people responsible for websites or fashion ads that promote anorexia, with penalties of up to two years of jail and over $ 47,000 in fines.

Didier Grumbach, president of the French Fashion Federation (FFF) stated that the groups that took part in the edit of the charter will attack anything that encourages excessive weight loss, although they intend not to create any more rules, the document being a decision to be extremely careful and fight the matter in question but without any more legislation.