6 Minute English - Are models too skinny

Have to say, you get a lean and hungry look today.

I'll take that as a complement, should I.

Yes, please do. Do you want a donuts?

Actually yes. Can I have two. What are we talking about today, Rob?

We're talking about skinny or very thin models.  On where there should be a law banning them from walking on the catwalk.

On the catwalk is the long runway that models walk down the fashion shows.

Well, no danger for me there, Rob. I think I like eating a little bit too much.

There is no danger you'll become a model anyway, Finn. Because you are not good looking enough. I am afraid.

Oh really. Thank you Rob. It's very nice. I think it's time for today's quiz question please.

OK,  here we go. Which country ban the use of underweight models in 2013. Was it.
a) Israel.
b) Canada.
c) The US.

You know what. I got no ideas so I'm taking a guess and say a) Israel.

OK, we'll find out is that the right answer later on. So come on Finn, what do you think other models we see on the catwalk and the media too skinny.

Well yes. I think some models do fantastic but others look painful thin. Other media by the way refers different ways information is communicate to us. So for example, through TV, through radio, magazines, often the internet and newspapers.

OK well. let's listen to XXXXX, founder of imaginary director media agency in US, talking about a new French law being discussed preventing the use of underweight models. Can you spot the phrase means a limited or an ending.

I think it's BMI. 18 or less sounds like...That is hopefully being banned by French recently today. This is what the US healthy organization state being clinically in-healthy. So it's almost that could out yet be thin, yet be out of the general population wants to stop.

And French assembly did pass this law a few days later. Now did you spot the phrase for a limited or an ending? It's cutoff point.

So models that is too thin will be banned or won't be allowed to work. And the cutoff point is BMI of 18 or less.

BMI stands for the Body Mass Index. And this is the ratio of a person's height to their weight. A ratio means a relationship between two things. Showing how big one thing is compared to another.

But what happen if you are just happen naturally really thin? The authority could be accused of discrimination against skinny people or treating some people less fair to others.

That's right. It's a good point and that's why the French authority and those some other countries are using BMI as a way deciding. So models with BMI of 18 or less weight too little when compared to how tall they are.

And clinically unhealthy, what's that mean?

It means you need medical treatments for a condition or illness.

Now, XXX is a neologism well person refuse to eat in order to lose weight. But some models these days are so skinny they all look.

You are right. Let's hear more from XXXXX, talking about protecting the healthy of the models. Now what phrase is he used to mean irresponsibility.

The agency and model agency got responsibilities to look after their clients. There is huge amount of pressure by the agency on their models themselves. I'm really and make sure these people are healthy

So the problem of the modeling industry is the agent who employees the girls put pressure on or strongly persuade them to lose weight.

And in this way, they are taking care of their clients. They are actually putting them at the risk. What is that, Rob?

Because many people in the fashion industry prefer very thin model. So they evasive supply demand, the agents are simply supplying the fashion industry the type of girl they want.

Right. And what is the report to me  when he says the bark lice with the agency.

When they bark light or stop someone means it his or her responsibility, not someone else. And agents who employee underweight models can face fine up to about 75,000 euro, or even prison sentences.

OK. Show we here the answer to today's quiz question.

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I have to say you you've got a lean and hungry look today! I'll take that as a compliment, should shall I? Yes, Please do. Do you want a doughnut? Actually, yes yeah – can I have two? So what are we talking about today, Rob?

We're talking about skinny – or very thin – models on where and whether there should be a law banning them from walking working on the catwalk. On the And a catwalk is the long runway that models walk down the atfashion shows. Well, no danger there for me there Rob – I think I like eating a little bit too much. And there's no danger you'll become of you becoming a model anyway, Finn – because you're not good looking enough, Iam I'm afraid! Oh really. OK. Thank you, Rob. It's very nice. That's very nice of you. I think it's time for today's quiz question, please.

OK – well, here we go. goes. Which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013? Was it… a) Israel b) Canada or c) the US

You know what? I I've got no idea. So I'm taking I'll take a guess and say a) Israel. OK. Well, we'll find out is if that's the right answer later on, on. So come on, Finn, what do you think? other Are the models we see on the catwalk and in US, the media too skinny? Well, yeah, I think some models do look fantastic but others look painfully thin. Other, Now, the media, by the way, refers to the different ways information is communicated to us.us, so, for example, through TV, through radio, magazines, and often the internet and newspapers. OK. Well. Well ,yeah, let's listen to XXXXX, Jamie Gavin, founder of imaginary and managing director of media agencyinPress, talking about a new French law being discussed, preventing the use of underweight models. Can you spot the a phrase that means a limit or an ending?

I think it's BMI a BMI of 18 or less, sounds like... that's hopefully being going to be banned by the French recently Assembly today. This is what the US health organization states being as being kind of clinically unhealthy. So it's almost that could out yet like a cut-off point. Yes, be thin, yet be out of yes be thinner than the general population, wants to stop. but once it starts getting to unhealthy territory really that's time to start banning it.And the French Assembly did pass this law a few days later. Now, did you spot the phrase for a limit or an ending? It's cut-off point. So models that is are too thin will be banned – or won't be allowed – to work. And the cutoff point is a BMI of 18 or less. Now BMI stands for the body mass index. And this is the ratio of a person's height to their weight. A Ratio means a the relationship between two things, showing how big one thing is compared to another.

But what happens if you're just happen naturally really thin? The authorities could be accused of discrimination against skinny people – or treating some people less fair to fairly than others. That's right. It's a good point. And that's why the French authorities and those of some other countries are using BMI as a way of deciding. So, models with a BMI of 18 or less weigh too little when compared to how tall they are. And clinically unhealthy – what's what does that mean? It means when you need medical treatment for a condition or illness. Now XXX is a neologism well anorexia is an illness where a person refuses to eat in order to lose weight. But some models these days are so skinny they all look. You are do look anorexic. You're right. Let's hear more from XXXXX, Jamie Gavin talking about protecting the health of the models. Now what What phrase is heused to mean 'the responsibility'?

The agency and model agency The theatrical agents and the modelling agents that have got responsibilities a responsibility to look after their clients. There is There's a huge amount of pressure by the agency on theirmodels themselves. I'm on both the agent and on the models themselves and really and the buck lies with them to make sure these people are healthy and that they're looking after their careers as well. So the problem ofthe modeling industry is with the modelling industry is that the agents who employ the girls put pressure on – or strongly persuade – them to lose weight. And in this way they are aren't taking care of their clients, they are actually putting them at the risk. What is Now, why's that, Rob? It's because many people in the fashion industry prefer very thin models so they evasive it's a case of supply and demand. The agents are simply supplying the fashion industry with the type of girls they want. Right. And what is does the reporter to me mean when he says the bark lice buck lies with the agents? When they bark light the buck lies – or stops someone – withsomeone it means it's his or her responsibility, not someone else's. And agents who employed underweight models can face fines of up to about 75,000 euros, or even prison sentences. OK Show OK, shall we here hearthe answer to today's quiz question?