London, Sep 15 (ANI): Catwalk models at London fashion week will be allowed on the ramp only on one condition - a doctor's certificate proving they are not suffering from any eating disorder.

In addition, no models will be allowed to take part until they are over the age of 16, and undergo regular backstage drugs testing.

Experts say such certificates, provided by specialist doctors, would help counter endemic health problems in the modelling world such as anorexia and bulimia.

The proposal was put forth in the Model Health Inquiry report, which was published on Sep 14, but the report's creators hope their suggestions will come into force in time for next September's event.

The report has come in response to concerns about the use of "size zero" women and following the deaths of two South American models last year.

Labour peer Baroness Kingsmill, who headed the inquiry, said the investigation had revealed "startling" evidence of the susceptibility of models and a "deep lack of knowledge" about eating disorders in the fashion industry.

As well as recommending the urgent launch of a health education programme, the report also proposed to combat the industry's other notorious scourge, drug abuse, with the introduction of random testing.

However, the inquiry panel, which included model Erin O'Connor and designers Giles Deacon and Betty Jackson, stopped short of urging a ban on size zero models.

The eight-member panel said the use of Body Mass Index - a ratio of height to weight used to calculate a healthy size for each individual - was too direct an instrument to use to gauge models' health.

"We do not believe a focus on BMI provides the way forward. The panel's expert advisers on eating disorders have stated that BMI is not an accurate method of determining health. . . and its use may worsen eating disorders among models," the Daily Mail quoted the report, as stating.

Hilary Riva, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, which commissioned the report, added: "We specifically asked the inquiry to review whether BMI was a useful measure to identify eating disorders."

"We agree with this assessment and the introduction of medical certificates, and subsequent monitoring, will better support the general healthiness of models appearing on the catwalk," she added.

The British Fashion Council said some of the report's recommendations had already been accepted, such as banning under-16s from the runways during London Fashion Week, while others would take extra time and funding to develop. (ANI)