The Skinny on Being Beautiful

Spain struck a blow to the fashion world in September when Madrid's regional government banned overly skinny models from their annual fashion week. If you didn't have a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 18, you weren't allowed on the runway.

Of course, the fashion industry was quick to get their underpants (what there are of them) in a bunch. Cathy Gould, of New York's Elite modeling agency, slammed Spain for making her industry a scapegoat. "I think it's outrageous," she told Reuters News Service, "I understand they want to set this tone of healthy, beautiful women, but what about discrimination against the model and what about the freedom of the designer?"

She went on to claim the decision could harm the careers of naturally "gazelle-like" models.

Spain, in turn, was quick to point out that the fashion industry has a responsibility, not just to the skinny models, but to society. "Fashion is a mirror and many teenagers imitate what they see on the catwalk," Madrid regional official Concha Guerra told Reuters.

All and all, it was a refreshingly contrary position from a country we could all take a few lessons from. At the risk of slightly over-generalizing, the Spanish have a number of excellent habits. They take naps in the middle of the day. They favor fresh fruits and veggies and they eat small meals throughout the day—and the big meal they do eat is lunch, as opposed to a giant dinner right before bed. Finally, they tend not to have weird body image issues. Spanish women can be curvy and Spanish men can have a little paunch—yet they still consider themselves sexy.

For the record, they drink and smoke a lot, but nobody's perfect.

Obsessed with skinny
Over here on the other side of the Atlantic, we're obsessed with skinny. People seem to be either 400 pounds or rail thin. According to The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, 70 million people worldwide suffer from eating disorders and, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, a disproportionate 24 million of those are Americans.

And despite Ms. Gould's flimsy protests, the media—of which the fashion industry plays quite a role—is extremely culpable. According to the Dr. Michael Levine's report Prevention of Eating Problems with Elementary Children, 69 percent of girls in 5th through 12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape and 47 percent reported wanting to lose weight because of magazine pictures.

Face it, if an actress shows the slightest bit of cellulite or has anything droop in her bathing suit, it's all over the tabloids—no wonder Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan starve themselves practically to death.

When Americans decide to get fit, it's rarely for health reasons. Usually it's to lose weight or get to 5 percent body fat or to cram into a size-2 dress. It's rarely to get that cholesterol down or to add a few years to our lives. And it often requires weight loss to the point of self-detriment.

Healthy body image
This may be shocking news coming from a member of the Beachbody Advice Staff, but I have a gut. It's not a big one, but it's there. I could get rid of it by really tightening up my diet and doubling up on workouts—but why? I'm healthy as the proverbial horse. Every year, my doctor is amazed at my blood work. I can out-swim most people. And most importantly, I feel good.

Sometimes, your body wants to have a little fat. It's a good emergency fuel source and as you age, it protects your internal organs. Of course, I'm not advocating obesity—not even close. Everyone's life should be full of fresh, healthy food and daily exercise. However, to all those people freaking out over the five pounds they can't lose—maybe your body likes those five pounds.

Hopefully, the trend will turn. Shortly after Spain's decree, several top Israeli retailers joined the ban. Also, top designed top designer Dolce & Gabbana, recently used a plus-size model—size-12 Crystal Renn—in a fall editorial campaign.

Furthermore, there was a time when a little roundness was okay. Marilyn Monroe was 5' 1/2" and 120 pounds. When Clark Gable took off his shirt in It Happened One Night, I don't recall six-pack abs.

Exercise, eat right, nap. If you're bone-skinny, enjoy. If you have curves, enjoy those too.

But maybe stay away from the smoking and drinking.

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