Size 0 is a women's clothing size in the US catalog sizes system. Size 0 and 00 were invented due to the changing of clothing sizes over time (referred to as vanity sizing or size inflation), which has caused the adoption of lower numbers. Modern size 0 clothing, depending on brand and style, will fit measurements of chest-stomach-hips from 30-22-32 inches (76-56-81 cm) to 33-25-35 inches (84-64-89 cm). "Size zero" often refers to extremely thin individuals (especially women), or trends associated with them.
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The use of size 0 in advertisements and products of the clothing industry has been met with some media attention. For example, Dawn Porter, a reporter from the UK, who had been challenged to go on an extreme celebrity 'size zero' diet for a new BBC programme, Super Slim Me, logged her experiences about her journey to a size zero.[1]
The World Health Organisation, doctors and women's groups are concerned that the use of underweight models sends out dangerously wrong signals to girls who look at models as role models.[2]
In July 2009, Katie Green won a competition to represent Wonderbra. They referred her to the Premier Model Management agency for representation. Green reported that "one of the guys from the PR agency from Wonderbra" insisted that she lose weight, that it wasn't normal for models to be a size 8. Unless I could drop down to that weight, they wouldn't be willing to get me more work."[3] Green, who is 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall[4] and in May 2011 weighed 145 lb (64 kg),[5] at first complied, but then rebelled and quit the agency.
She then, with Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Öpik, launched a campaign titled "Say No to Size Zero".[6] They began a petition drive with the goal to put an end to size zero and underweight models on the catwalk or working in the fashion industry. They set a goal to obtain 20,000 signatures and plan to present it to the UK Prime Minister and Parliament. They are campaigning for legislation that would require regular health checkups for all models before undertaking any assignments.[4][7]
In September 2010, Victoria Beckham banned size zero models from her New York Fashion Week runway show. Herself a size two (UK size 6) at 36 years old, she reportedly barred 12 models from appearing in her show after deeming them 'too skinny'. Her fashions will be modelled by "healthy girls who look 'realistic' to encourage a positive image to impressionable teens."[8]
Size zero models were barred from Madrid Fashion Week in 2006, and the Milan fashion show took the same action shortly afterward, banning models with a body mass index (BMI) of 18 or below. As a result, five models were banned from taking part.[9]
Fashion labels Prada, Versace and Armani have agreed to ban size zero models from their catwalks. As of 2007, the British Fashion Council promoted the creation of a task force to establish guidelines for the fashion industry. They also urged fashion designers to use healthy models. An inquiry reported in September 2007 that up to 40 per cent of models could have an eating disorder and made a number of suggestions to promote health, yet ruled out a ban on size-zero models. Larger sizes 14 and 16 - would also be introduced into shows and all models under 16 would also be banned.[2]
Fashion designer Giorgio Armani has given support to the effort to eliminate ultra-thin models. "The time has now come for clarity. We all need to work together against anorexia."[2]