Modeling Dangers: All About Eating Disorders

Fashion models have long been associated with poor eating habits and eating disorders, and for good reason too. Models are under intense pressure to maintain their body shape, which unfortunately, favors the waifish type of women.

If you’re a parent with a teenager aspiring to become a model, it pays to know what these disorders are and how they work. You may be busy looking for modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, but it’s important to set aside time to understand how these problems work.

• Eating disorders are caused by a complex set of factors, which go beyond just exposure to images shown by the media and industry of thin women. It also goes beyond the pressures to meet requirements in fashion modeling. The fact is, a woman who is psychologically healthy and thrust into these situations is  more likely to handle things well, compared to a girl who’s less mature and emotionally unstable.


• A woman with issues that lead to eating disorders should really just consider some other profession or line of work. Modeling looks easy, but it is incredibly stressful, putting intense pressure on a girl’s self esteem and confidence. The industry doesn’t excel at providing girls the responsible supervision they need, making it easy for pre-existing eating disorders and tendencies to worsen.


• Young models in particular are most susceptible to eating disorders, since they’ve yet to mature emotionally and psychologically. They need the most supervision and guidance to combat eating disorders, which is just one of the issues young models face. Parent simply have to gain an understanding of these risks and form a position of judgment and knowledge of their daughters’ emotional health and maturity. It’s up to them to determine any warning signs presents and whether they help their daughters avoid modeling altogether.


• Far more common than eating disorders are the seemingly rational methods of models to reduce or control their weight to meet industry standards. They may not be suffering from your typical eating disorder, but they’re facing real risks that arise from the pressure the industry puts on models.

As a parent, it’s your responsibility to be there for your daughter through every step of the way. From applying at modeling agencies in Pennsylvania, New York or Los Angeles, to attending auditions, to working on modeling gigs, you should really keep tabs on your girl’s progress and how she’s handling the demands of the industry.