Anorexia spurred on by fashion magazines

A study of 3,000 women in the UK and Europe found young women, who account for 90 per cent of anorexia cases, were influenced by the size and weight of their peer group. LSE academics conducting the research believe restricting the use

of photographs of underweight models in magazines would help ease the pressure on women to be very thin.

LSE economist Dr Joan Costa-Font and Professor Mireia Jofre-Bonet from City University wrote: "Government intervention would be justified to curb the spread of a potential epidemic of food disorders.

"The distorted self-perception of women with food disorders and the importance of the peer effects may prompt governments to take action to influence role models and compensate for social pressure on women."

In the UK, average BMI was the highest of the 17 countries in the study at 25.98.

The researchers said that Government would be justified in banning size zero models from the catwalk and stopping photos of "very skinny" women being used in magazines, according to researchers.

Image: Topshop