Reporters' Notebook: From the Front Lines of London Fashion Week

LONDON, Feb. 15, 2008 — -- As London Fashion Week draws to a close, it's worthwhile to reflect on how much, if anything, has changed in the world of British fashion since last February when all the talk was less about zips, buckles, belts and pleats and more about eating disorders, dress sizes and BMI measurements.

For those who missed the storm, BMI refers to body mass index — it's a numeric measure based on a person's height and weight that calculates their "fatness" or "thinness." A BMI that's less than 18.5 is considered underweight, more than 25 is regarded as overweight and more than 30 is clinically obese.

After the British Fashion Council, which organizes London Fashion Week, came under fire last year for not barring size 0 models from participating in the shows, it is eager to show the world that it has taken those concerns on board.

A spokesperson for the council tells ABC News that it "launched the model health inquiry due to media interest" nearly a year ago and is "working with numerous people to ensure that the backstage areas become a healthy place of work."

The council has even hired an auditing firm to monitor all backstage activity. Although the council's spokesperson would not confirm the name of the auditing company, media reports suggest that a team from PricewaterhouseCoopers has been given full-access backstage passes, with a brief to observe any illicit activity, from drug use to alcohol abuse to cigarette smoking.

"Smoking is no longer allowed and we have a complete no-drugs policy. We also make sure there is plenty of nonalcoholic refreshment available," the council spokesperson said.

But what about the issue that got media campaigners riled up in the first place — super-skinny models?

A cursory glance at this week's catwalks shows no discernable difference — the models are still very thin and very tall, to no one's surprise.

Although Madrid Fashion Week made headlines in September 2006 when it banned models with a BMI of less than 18, London has refused to follow in these footsteps, choosing only to reject models under the age of 16.