Today's Models- Thin is in but is it Healthy?

The fashion industry has placed very untenable demands on the bodies of female models. They want a thin look because people like to see fashionable clothes draped around a slim female form. This is where the problem begins for the models – they starve themselves, opt for unhealthy diets and do all kinds of crazy things to lose weight. The results are disastrous, and here is a list of health conditions that such a "thin" look can cause:

1. Dehydration – Restricting carbs and fats and drinking fewer fluids can deprive the body of its water content. Sometimes models drink excessive water so that they do not feel hunger pangs – this causes fluid accumulation in the lungs.

2. Electrolyte deficiency – Human bodies require electrolytes and minerals to sustain themselves, and poor nutritional intake ensures the body does not get them.

3. Vitamin and mineral deficiency – Other than impairing the various physiological functions, vitamin and mineral deficiency in the body can also cause the body to sprout soft hair on arms, face and legs (medical term: Lanugo); it can waste muscular mass and impair neuromuscular function and also cause swelling of the face.

4. Following a "thin" diet religiously can cause paralysis due to the wasting of the muscle mass.

5. Models force themselves to vomit the food after eating – this is well known. What is not well known is that such an act can tear up the esophagus, rupture the stomach and cause internal bleeding.

6. Acid reflux is a common disorder experienced by most female models. Acid reflux may seem common, but if it persists, it can cause throat and esophagus cancer.

7. A serious consequence of being too thin, and hence too low a body fat percentage, is irregularity in monthly periods or sometimes even complete absence of periods. This happens because the female hormone estrogen and other hormones are synthesized by the body from fats. If one doesn't have sufficient body fat, hormonal imbalances set in, giving rise to a host of gynecological problems.

8. Other important disorders associated with thinning are insomnia, fatigue, hyperactivity, dry skin, low blood pressure, or even high blood pressure in models who binge out after a bout of starvation, hair loss, brittle nails, low platelet count in the blood, fluctuating blood sugar levels, diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis, depression and dental problems.