By STEPHANIE CLARKSON

Last updated at 15:45 13 December 2006

We're constantly bombarded with images of shrinking A-list stars, but what's the reality of being a size zero, a UK size four? With a 22-inch waist the shape is striking - as are the health implications.

But how would you look? We manipulated the pictures of four ordinary women and STEPHANIE CLARKSON asked them - and their friends and boyfriends - how they thought they looked:

Name: MARIE-LOUISE DOE



Job: Shop assistant



Lives: Worcestershire



Size: Size 8



Height: 5ft 5in, Weight: 7st 7lb



Bust: 32B, Waist: 24.5in



Hips: 32in, Thighs: 19in



'Although I'm slim, these photos show a world of difference between my current size and the infamous size zero. I look healthy and slim in the first photo but I'm horrified by the second one.



Why would anyone want to look like this? The way my ribs and collarbones jut out make me look ill - I hate it.'



Boyfriend Russell Collins says:



'In the past I've teased Marie-Louise about being skinny, but having seen what "too thin" really looks like, I'll lay off her. If she lost that amount of weight I'd have huge reservations about her sanity.'



Best friend Laura Collings says:



'I got such a shock when I saw the photo of Marie-Louise as a size zero. Those scrawny thighs made me feel sick.'

Name: CHRISTIE LEWIS



Job: Physiotherapist



Lives: Cheshire



Size: 10



Height: 5ft 8in, Weight: 9st 4lbs



Bust: 34B, Waist: 27in



Hips: 35in, Thighs: 21in



'Looking at the size zero picture, I think my face looks prettier and more sculpted. But I'd never want to be this thin - my chest looks completely emaciated. But the more I flick between the two photos, the more I lose sight of what looks normal. It really makes me appreciate the power of the image.'



Boyfriend Edd Arterton says:

'I think Christie looks dreadful as a size zero - her body is totally unfeminine. I'd never be attracted to her if she dieted to get this thin - she looks like an ironing board!'



Mum Sue Lewis says:



'I couldn't find anything to like about the 'thin' Christie. She looks scrawny, disproportionate and anorexic - it's horrible.'

Name: CASSANDRA HALL



Job: Royal Navy steward



Lives: Plymouth



Size: 12



Height: 5ft 6in, Weight: 9st 11lb



Bust: 34C, Waist: 30in



Hips: 34in, Thighs: 20in



'I'm an English pear shape and don't like my legs and bum. So, my first thought when I saw the size zero photo was: "If only I had those thighs."



'They're slender and don't meet. But it would also mean trading in my cleavage, which I love. In the second photo, my chest looks awful, and I hate the twiggy arms.'



Husband Paul Hall says:



'We got married recently and Cass tried to lose weight before, but if she'd turned up looking like this waif, I'd have keeled over at the altar.'



Friend Carly Robinson says:



'It was upsetting to hear Cass preferred her size zero thighs. It look like there's something wrong with the thin girl.'

Name: GEMMA RILEY



Job: Promotions



Lives: Berkshire



Size: 14



Height: 5ft 3in, Weight: 9st 4lb



Bust: 34D, Waist: 31in



Hips: 38in, Thighs: 20in



'I'm not happy with my current shape - I need to lose weight. I don't like either version of me but I prefer the torso of my size zero body -the way the smaller boobs fit into the bra rather than spill out of the sides as they do in real life.

'But I don't like the way my body is just straight up and down in the picture. 'This has shown me that I need to work harder at the gym. I may be fit but I'm not my ideal weight.'



Mum Angie Riley says:



'Gemma has put on weight over the last couple of years and I don't think it suits her. But I don't like her as a size zero - she needs to find a middle ground.'



Best friend Alison Quarnby says:



'I think Gemma looks OK as a size zero, except for the scrawny limbs. If I'm honest Gemma is slightly overweight, but the "real" photo shows she has curves in the right places.'

Name:

Job: Housewife



Lives: Nottinghamshire



Size: 16



Height: 5ft 1in, Weight: 11st 7lb



Bust: 36D, Waist: 34in



Hips: 40in, Thighs: 25in



'I was always plump until I became bulimic aged 17 and lost four stone in eight months. Although I've recovered, my friends and family warned that doing this might cause me to relapse, but it's achieved the opposite.



'As a size zero my arms look undernourished and my face looks sharp and mean - like my personality has been sucked out. 'It scares me that I was once killing myself to look like this - it's served as a warning to stay on track.'



Fiance Kirk Bilby says:



'The thin version doesn't even look like Beth - and I definitely couldn't fancy anyone that bony. 'I hope she's finally realised that, in her case, big is beautiful.'



Best friend Helen Whitehead says:

'In the first picture Beth looks beautiful and confident. The second looks like a total stranger - and one who's a complete bore.'