IRELAND has the highest rates of anorexia in Europe along with Italy and Austria, the first ever economic analysis of the condition has found.

Anorexia is a socially transmitted disorder and is more prevalent in countries where women are thinner than average, according to research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

The research by LSE economist Dr Joan Costa-Font and Professor Mireia Jofre-Bonet of City University, showed that it is becoming increasingly apparent that standards of physical appearance are important and powerful motivators of human behavior, especially regarding health and food.

Banning skinny models from the catwalk and pictures of underweight models from magazines may prevent the epidemic of the disease, they said.

A study of 3,000 women from all over Europe found young women, aged from 15 - 34 who account for 90pc of anorexia cases, were influenced by the size and weight of their peer group.

Size zero celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss are often cited for their negative influence on teens.

Victoria Beckham’s ultra thin frame is frequently described as giving 'thinspiration' for anorexics.

The mum-of-four is hailed by many with eating disorders as the celebrity they would most like to look like - and she is celebrated on pro-anorexia websites.

One website comment posted read: "I wonder if there is a published Victoria Beckham 'diet' out there?"

Beckham has in the past spoken about her own eating disorder, particularly during her time with the Spice Girls. It was awful, she said. "I was very obsessed. I could have told you the calorie and fat content in anything."

Supermodel Kate Moss was also championed on pro-anorexia websites when she appeared to give encouragement to girls to refuse food when she told a reporter in 2009 her motto was "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels".

The LSE researchers analyzed the influence of peer pressure on 2,871 women between the ages of 15 and 34 who reported their weight, height, eating habits, age, gender, marital status, educational level, professional category, political attitudes and most crucially their own perception of their body image.

Women judged to be anorexic have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 17.5.

Women from Northern Ireland had the lowest prevalence of anorexia, but the highest was Austria with 1.55pc of the women affected followed by Ireland at 1.32pc and France at 1.02pc.

The average BMI of Irish women was 24.4. Greek women had the highest average BMI at 25.8 and Austrian women had the lowest BMI at 23.6.

Women in almost all countries were worried about body weight ranging from 56.2pc in Northern Ireland to 35.9pc in Ireland.

In a paper that will be published in the journal Economia later this year, LSE economist Dr Joan Costa-Font and Professor Mireia Jofre-Bonet from City University wrote: "Government intervention would be justified to curb the spread of a potential epidemic of food disorders.

"The distorted self-perception of women with food disorders and the importance of the peer effects may prompt governments to take action to influence role models and compensate for social pressure on women."