Law tackles thin fashion

The legislation also requires publications to disclose when they use altered images to make people look thinner.

The ban appears to be the first time a government has used legislation to take on a fashion industry accused of abetting eating disorders by idealising extreme thinness. It could be a model for other countries grappling with the spread of anorexia and bulimia, particularly among young women.

The law's sponsor, Dr Rachel Adato, compares the battle against eating disorders with the struggle against smoking. Critics say the legislation should have focused on models' health, not weight.