The Council of Fashion Designers of America is the latest fashion organisation to jump on the weight debate bandwagon. CFDA president, designer Diane von Furstenberg, assembled a committee to deal with the issue of model weight, which has already stirred emotions and caused controversy in Europe. Spain's decision to ban too skinny models to combat eating disorders has forced the industry to turn its attention to the issue of beauty standards. Von Furstenberg's committee includes a nutrionist, a psychiatrist and a trainer and its job is to determine what role the fashion industry can play in promoting the health of fashion models.

"The fashion industry is acknowledging this weight debate as a serious issue," Von Furstenberg said as the committee convened last week. Joining the debate were the editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, and Louis Chaban, an agent at modelling agency DNA. "Together with medical professionals, we are committed to promoting good health and helping these young girls." Von Furstenberg will be sending letters to designers to let them know that the organisation has taken a stand on the issue, in the hope that this will affect their casting decisions in preparation for New York Fashion Week. "The CFDA has formed a committee and outlined suggested guidelines that will be announced at a breakfast during fashion week, to be followed by a bigger seminar later this year," Von Furstenberg said. The guidelines will be revealed to designers, model agents and industry insiders specially invited to the breakfast.

The US follows in the footsteps of Italy, whose Chamber of Fashion last month issued a "healthy models" manifesto. The document includes the requirement of licenses for fashion models. With a minimum age of 16, the license will take ethnic differences into consideration. Mario Boselli, Von Furstenberg's Italian counterpart, said during the signing of the manifesto that he hoped the issue would become an international priority. A meeting is scheduled between Boselli, Von Furstenberg, Didier Grumbach, president of France's Chambre Syndicale, and Hilary Riva, chief executive of the British Council, in Paris on 24 January.