For a while, it seemed the size zero phenomenon was over. ‘Strong is the new skinny’ said magazine headlines – a celebration, if you like, of a more balanced and healthy attitude to body shapes.
Social media is littered with phrases such as ‘strongandlean’ ‘fit fam’ and ‘fitnotthin’. A little smug, yes, but at least encouraging a healthier philosophy towards body shape.
But, according to Grazia, this attitude is being challenged by a new - and dangerous - obsession with extreme slimness. The magazine reports that, according to LA sources: ‘Right now it’s in to be thin in Hollywood.
'It’s not about size zero anymore. These days, double-zero sizes don’t cut it either. Size triple zero is the number-one goal here.'
So why the return? ‘Although there are thankfully curvier role models out there, from Kim Kardashian to Beyoncé, it’s a cut-throat industry and it’s no secret that stars can make headlines out of being scarily skinny,’ said the same unnamed source.
The latest badge of honour for the A-list sees them starving themselves to fit into a size that is FIVE sizes smaller than a UK 10, with a miniscule 23-inch-waist.
Models, It girls and actresses are all jumping on board this new bandwagon, with Nicole Ritchie, who first sparked concern over size zero in 2006, looking thinner than ever.
Alexa Chung and Mary Charteris and actresses Kate Bosworth and Modern Family's Julie Bowen are also among those sporting pencil-thin legs and sharp collarbones.
The 23-inch waist that size triple zero demands is a healthy waist measurement for a six-to-eight year old girl, and though most UK brands don’t carry adult clothes in such a tiny size, it is available from many American brands sold on our high streets.
'While stars might be following this potentially dangerous trend hoping to grab attention in the press, young women are in turn copying them, spurred on by the ultra-thin photos these celebrities share on social media.
A-list trainer James Duigan says: 'The selfie craze in particular has intensified this, and celebrities know that if they post a picture of themselves looking skinny, with ribs on show, they’ll get attention.
'but it isn’t always real – sometimes they’re breathing in and sometimes the angle makes them look thinner than they really are.
Their weight struggles become their story. When you lose weight too quickly or too severely, it just doesn’t work. The public may look at these and see thinness, but they don’t see the injury, pain and hunger.’
Grazia Editor-in-Chief Jane Bruton says: 'For a while it seemed the size zero phenomenon was over after the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna and Daisy Lowe became body role models.
'But while these women are still celebrated, there appears to be a disturbing return in Hollywood to the worryingly thin frames we saw eight years ago when Grazia first reported on Size 00. In fact, it's gone even further with the introduction of American Size 000.'
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