Fashion designers still make zero size clothes, possibly in order to attract more attention to them, rather than their models. From now onwards, under-16s will not be allowed to participate in this race of skinny models. Kate Moss (ON THE PHOTO) and Lily Cole may have made their first appearance on the catwalk at the age of 14, but future supermodels, especially in the UK, may have to wait until they turn 16 to hit the fashion circuit after a new report commissioned by the fashion industry has recommended banning under-age models from London Fashion Week.

As Kate Moss and Lily Cole may have made their first appearance on the catwalk at the age of 14, future supermodels, especially in the UK, may have to wait until they turn 16 to bew part of catwalks at London Fashion Week.

Except for an explicit recommendation to ban under-age models from catwalks, including those at London Fashion Week, the report is bringing public attention to the way girls below the age of consent are "sexualised" and about the prevalence of eating disorders and drug abuse among models. The report calls for more protection for models, including regular health checks by medical doctors.

Baroness Kingsmill, the chairperson of the Model Health Inquiry, expressed concerns over what was caleld the "dark side" of the modelling industry: "It seems that there has been a blind eye turned in the past. They look glamorous, they look gorgeous, they are OK. But they are not OK. They are ill, many of them," she said and added: "The working conditions of models are pretty appalling. They are young and vulnerable and they have very short careers."

"There was strongly expressed concern that it is profoundly inappropriate that girls under 16 - under the age of consent - should be portrayed as adult women. The risk of sexualising these children was high and designers could risk charges of sexual exploitation."

Rosalynd Ramage of  The Look Agency in Glasgow, Scotland, supported the ban of underage models from catwalks: "I think it's right, especially if they are wearing clothes designed to be worn by a woman in her thirties. We don't book girls under that age. All the models we have under 16 are booked as children. They do things like children's magazines and things which are appropriate for their age."

At the same time, there are a number of statements opposing the report and the views above. For instance, Kay Gannon, the co-director of All Talent UK, based in Glasgow,  said she felt it was fine for younger girls to take part in adult fashion shows, as long as they were well looked after and mature for their age. "You love getting girls at 13 or 14 years old and keeping an eye on them. If you get it right, the chances are they are going to have a long-term career."

Cathy Owen, a manager for The Model Team, also in Glasgow, said banning under-16s from catwalk shows could create problems for the next generation of British supermodels: "If you are limited to starting at 16 years old it could take years for them to build up enough experience and to get enough pictures in their 'book'."