New research suggests that banning size zero models from catwalks to promote a healthier ideal of beauty may actually make people's eating habits even worse.

According to the research carried out at the University of Bologna, increasing the average size of models could mean the weight that many people aspire to will also increase.

The authors argue that increasing the size of models on the catwalk will alter the ideal weights of a wide section of the female population.

The research suggests that for most people, seeing slimmer models on the catwalk acts as an incentive to stay trim.