6 Minute English – Are models too skinny?

Rob
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I’m Rob…

Finn
…and I’m Finn. Hello, Rob.

Rob
Hi there, Finn. I have to say you’ve got a lean and hungry look today!

Finn
Oh really? I’ll take that as a compliment, shall I?

Rob
Please do. Do you want a doughnut?

Finn
Actually, yeah – can I have two? So what are we talking about today, Rob?

Rob
We’re talking about skinny – or very thin – models and whether there should be a law banning them from working on the catwalk. And a catwalk is the long runway that models walk down at fashion shows.

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

Rob
And there’s no danger of you becoming a model anyway, Finn – because you’re not good looking enough, I’m afraid!

Finn
Oh really. OK. Thank you, Rob. That’s very nice of you. I think it’s time for today’s quiz question, please.

Rob
OK – well, here goes. Which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013? Was it…

a) Israel

b) Canada

or c) the US

Finn
You know what? I’ve got no idea. So I’ll take a guess and say a) Israel.

Rob
OK. Well, we’ll find out if that’s the right answer later on. So come on, Finn, what do you think? Are the models we see on the catwalk and in the media too skinny?

Finn
Well, yeah, I think some models do look fantastic but others look painfully thin. Now, the media, by the way, refers to the different ways information is communicated to us, so, for example, through TV, radio, magazines, and often the internet and newspapers.

Rob
OK. Well let’s listen to Jamie Gavin, founder and managing director of media agency inPress, talking about a new French law being discussed, preventing the use of underweight models. Can you spot a phrase that means a limit or an ending?

Jamie Gavin, founder and managing director of media agency inPress
I think it’s a BMI of 18 or less, that’s hopefully going to be banned by the French Assembly today. This is what the US health organization states as being kind of clinically unhealthy. So it’s almost like a cut-off point. Yes, be thin, yes be thinner than the general population, but once it starts getting to unhealthy territory really that’s time to start banning it.

Finn
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.

Rob
So models that are too thin will be banned – or won’t be allowed – to work. And the cut-off point is a BMI of 18 or less.

Finn
Now BMI stands for body mass index. And this is the ratio of a person’s height to their weight. Ratio means the relationship between two things, showing how big one thing is compared to another.

Rob
But what happens if you’re just naturally really thin? The authorities could be accused of discrimination against skinny people – or treating some people less fairly than others.

Finn
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.

Rob
And clinically unhealthy – what does that mean?

Finn
It means when you need medical treatment for a condition or illness.

Rob
Now anorexia is an illness where a person refuses to eat in order to lose weight. But some models these days are so skinny they do look anorexic.

Finn
You’re right. Let’s hear more from Jamie Gavin talking about protecting the health of models. What phrase is used to mean ‘the responsibility’?

Jamie Gavin, founder and managing director of media agency inPress
The theatrical agents and the modelling agents that have got a responsibility to look after their clients. There’s a huge amount of pressure on both the agent and on the models themselves and really the buck lies with them to make sure these people are healthy and that they’re looking after their careers as well.

Rob
So the problem with the modelling industry is that the agents who employ the girls put pressure on – or strongly persuade – them to lose weight.

Finn
And in this way they aren’t taking care of their clients, they are actually putting them at risk. Now, why’s that, Rob?

Rob
It’s because many people in the fashion industry prefer very thin models so it’s a case of supply and demand. The agents are simply supplying the fashion industry with the type of girls they want.

Finn
Right. And what does the reporter mean when he says the buck lies with the agents?

Rob
When the buck lies – or stops – with someone it means it’s his or her responsibility, not someone else’s. And agents who employed underweight models can face fines of up to 75,000 euros, or even prison sentences.

Finn
OK, shall we hear the answer to today’s quiz question?

Rob
OK. Well, I asked you which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013? Was it… a) Israel b) Canada or c) the US?

Finn
I said a) Israel.

Rob
And you were right, Finn! Well done. Now, shall we listen to the words we learned today?

Finn
We heard:

skinny

catwalk

media

cut-off point

banned

BMI (body mass index)

ratio

discrimination

clinically

anorexia

put pressure on

supply and demand

the buck stops with or the buck lies with

Rob
Thank you. Well, that brings us to the end of today’s 6 Minute English. We hope you had a healthy interest in today’s programme. Please join us again soon.

Finn
Doughnut?

Rob
Go on then.

Both
Bye.