"We all need to work together against anorexia." He accused some designers of exploiting underweight models to get publicity, condemning those "who like to provoke, who like to make a show so they get talked about."

He said:"I have never liked thin girls and I have never made them go on the catwalk." Mario Boselli, of the Italy'sFashion Council, said:"Italian fashion has always been the world leader and with this initiative we are assuming constructive behaviour and leadership that we hope will be followed by others."

Stefano Dominella, of the Rome's Haute Couture said:"The code wasn't stipulated with the intention of imposing something on someone.

"The objective is the regulating of the world of fashion, so that it doesn't get pointed out as being responsible for the dramatic facts in the news."

The Italian campaign, which will be officially launched on Friday in Rome, will also ask model agencies, photographers and makeup artists to join the battle against super-thin models.

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