Italian fashion designers have become the first in the world to ban size zero models from the catwalks.

Stylists have signed a joint declaration with the Italian government that in future shows all models will have a body mass index of 18.

It comes a month after the death of a Brazilian model and after this season's shows were thrown in the spotlight by wafer thin anorexic models.

In September Madrid's annual show banned models with a body mass index of less than 18 and there were calls for similar restrictions at the London Fashion Show, but they went unheeded.

Under the new self regulation code drawn up in Italy by the government and designers all models in future shows will be "full bodied, healthy and radiant Mediterranean types."

Models with a body mass index of less than 18 would not be allowed to take part and all must also present a medical certificate confirming they are in good health.

Larger sizes 14 and 16 - would also be introduced into shows and all models under 16 would also be banned.

In a joint statement Italy's Fashion Council and the government agreed that:"Many women affected by eating disorders had started dieting to attain the figures of catwalk models and cover girls."

Italy's youth minister Giovanna Melandri said:"The appeal that we have launched has been warmly welcomed and approved off by the fashion world.

"It's true that anorexia is not born on the catwalk but the fashion industry could not stand by as an indifferent spectator.

"The thin models that we have seen on the catwalks have been a cause of the increase in this illness which has also caused numerous deaths.

"The idea is to show the difference between a thin beautiful model and a thin ill model."

Minister Melandri added that at the forthcoming shows in Milan next month by Armani, Prada and Versace there would not be any "skeletal models."

Last month fashion designer Giorgio Armani also spoke out against thin models and said:"The time has now come for clarity.

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