A Stockholm treatment centre for eating disorders says talent scouts from modelling agencies had approached their patients outside the clinic, hoping to recruit them.

"They were outside the building and waited for the girls to go out for a walk," the director of the public institution, Anna-Maria af Sandeberg, told Swedish news agency TT, without naming the agencies.

The unscrupulous head hunters were familiar with the patients' everyday routine and would stop at nothing, she added.

"One of those contacted was in a wheelchair because she was so skinny," af Sandeberg said.

The incident took place several months ago, and the girls' schedules have since been changed.