The debate over the size of today's supermodels is still raging on and it seems no one is willing to agree on a solution to the problem.

Last week French Health Ministers rejected proposals to ban underweight models from the catwalks of Paris, despite other countries agreeing to the idea.

Since the death of two high profile anorexic Latino models, countries such as Spain, Italy and Brazil have taken steps to keep underweight models off the catwalks. But still Paris and London refuse to bow to pressure.

The French Health Ministry are in the process of creatings a voluntary charter for their designers and agencies to sign rather than a blanket ban. They claim that blaming or stigmatizing designers and models will only make the problem worse.

International designer Elie Saab does not see the need for models to be skinny. He told Reuters: "There are some fashion houses that prefer very skinny women, without a shape. But as for Elie Saab, usually I'm looking for a model who has a shape, has curves, has a bust. A woman in every sense of the word,"

Saab shot to fame after Halle Berry wore one of his dresses to the 2002 Oscars and since then his ready-to-wear designs have been a huge hit in Hollywood.

The Lebanese designer would not specifically say whether or not he approved of France's decision, but said: "I mean I don't know where is the beauty of these models who are bones. It's not necessary that she be a bone walking on legs to be a model."

Madrid was the first to clamp down on skinny models by banning anyone with a BMI less than 18 from its fashion week. Next came Milan, opening with a plus-size show. Italian fashion chiefs then decided all their models must carry a health certificate in order to get work.

In January London Fashion Week organisers refused to agree to a ban on size zero models despite pressure from designers and MPs. They even lost £620,000 of funding from Mayor Ken Livingston and the London Development Agency.

World famous designer Giorgio Armani admitted in the Independent Newspaper that he preferred models "on the slender side" because "the clothes I design and the sort of fabrics I use need to hang correctly on the body".

However, it's not just about the way skinny models look that needs to be considered. Brazilian model, Ana Carolina Reston, was just 21 years old when she died from an infection caused by anorexia. Another model, Luisel Ramos, died of heart failure during a fashion show in Uruguay after not eating for several days.

Anyone who is seriously underweight is suffering from an illness and harming their bodies. Doctors consider anyone with a BMI of less than 18.4 to be anorexic. Being this thin can cause all kinds of health problems including muscle weakness, brittle bones, loss of fertility and even heart failure as well as depression and memory loss.

We can not ignore the fact that some designers feel their clothes look better on thinner models but is this worth risking the health of the faces of fashion and those who look up to them?

Caz Moss