Plus Model Magazine’s January 2012 issue is causing a major stir with size 12 model Katya Zharkova lensed by Victoria Janashvili. Accompanying Katya’s images are bold statements about the growing disparity between downsized fashion models and increasingly overweight and obese American women — and many European women, too. Note that the article doesn’t mention the upsizing of real American women, who are vastly more overweight and obese than 20 years ago.

Our position on size 0 models is clear. As long as a size 0 model isn’t anorexic, we have no issue with a representation of size 0 models in fashion. We have a huge issue with the downsizing of the 90s supermodels who averaged a size 4, usually with visible muscles and a powerful physique.

The reality that a size 4 is often and a size 6 is always considered a plus size in fashion is crazy and frankly depressing, a big negative for women’s psyches. We hope to see a wide variety of BMI-healthy women in fashion because there is no doubt that we are impacted by the bodies we see featured in magazines, advertising and a host of media including television.

We continue to use BMI because it is the measure used by the global medical establishment and works in the aggregate. Exceptions to BMI, especially among more muscular women who work out and may register as overweight, don’t invalidate it. AOC also takes America’s obesity problem and lack of exercise very seriously.

The article Plus Size Bodies, What Is Wrong with Them Anyway? shares key statistics that are correct, to the best of our knowledge, but also one-sided.