INCITING ANOREXIA RISKS JAIL

A bill which would make it illegal for anyone - including fashion magazines, advertisers and websites - to publicly incite anoexia passed a major hurdle in the french parliament on 15 April.

The proposal was adopted by the lower house and goes before the senate. If it becomes law, offenders will risk a sentence of up to three years and a £36,000 fine.

The law is aimed mainly at blogs and websites where anorexics share experiences and tips on subjects such as appetite suppressants.

"Giving young girls advice about how to lie to doctors, telling them what kinds of food are easiest to vomit, encouraging them to torture themselves when they take food is not part of liberty of expression. The messages are messages of death."

France's health ministry estimates that there are about 30,000-40,000 anorexics, 90% of them young women.