Italy, Israel and Spain have all passed bills banning the use of ultra-thin models, with France expected to follow suit.

The French National Assembly is considering a health reform bill that includes measures to ban designers and labels from using models deemed "too thin" by healthcare standards.

Very thin models would be required to prove they have a minimum body mass index (BMI) of 18, with a medical certificate.

They would then be subjected to periodic weigh-ins. Those who employed models who come in under weight would face fines of up to 75,000 euros, (£55,000) or even prison sentences.

Jamie Gavin, founder and managing director of media agency inPress, has welcomed the proposals.

Correction 1 April 2015: This page has been amended to clarify that it is the employers, rather than the models, who could be penalised.