Sanjay Pattanayak, psychiatry and de-addiction consultant at Vidyasagar Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (VIMHANS), feels that no matter how many times people are told not to copy these celebrities, they would still do it.

Adolescents are the worst hit in such pursuits, he says.

"These ultra-slim figures of celebrities greatly influence teenagers and those around 20 years of age," Pattanayak said.

"Ten to 20 years back, actresses were not as thin and so not many people used to be influenced by them.

But now there is a lot of glamour attached to the silver skin. The Indian teenagers' attitude is changing and  they are increasingly being affected by whatever the celebrity models and actors do," Pattanayak added.

Aanchal Oberoi, a Delhi-based model, says women should not blindly follow trends set by models and actresses. She said it is important for models to stay thin and physically fit so that they get good work.

"A person should be comfortable with his/her body type. If you think you look good when thin or slightly plump, you should be like that and not be thin just because a model or actress looks good like that," she said.

Photograph: Getty Images

In the photograph: Actress Kate Winslet refuses to work in movies that demand her to look very thin.