MADRID (Reuters)

Five models were declared too thin for the catwalk at this week's international designer show in Madrid, a doctor in charge of vetting them said yesterday.

Last year, Madrid's Cibeles became the first high-profile parade to bar models whose ratio of body weight to height was so low it was deemed an unhealthy example to the public.

"The idea of weighing models who are on show here and making sure they look healthy is so that they do not have a negative influence by prompting young people to become obsessed by being thin," doctor Susana Monereo told reporters.

Fat enough

The other 64 models who were checked had enough fat on them to take part, including one who was banned in September for being too boney.

"I didn't want to be obsessed with my weight, but I did what I could and I've achieved it," Maria Campoy, a model who was rejected last time for having a body mass index of below 18, told Spanish state television.

The use of underweight models promoting the ultra-slim look has dominated much of world fashion since the 1990s, and was epitomised by British supermodel Kate Moss.

But it has come in for sharp criticism following the death of Brazilian model Ana Carolina Resto from complications derived from the slimming disease anorexia.

Following Spain's example last September, Italy and New York fashion chiefs have debated the issue and Brazil has campaigned to prevent excessively-thin models from appearing.

"I don't like the extremely-thin look and I think setting a limit is a good thing," Roberto Torreta, one of the designers taking part in the Cibeles show that starts today, told state television.