Should Moss eat her words?

Eating disorder experts criticized Kate Moss on Thursday after the supermodel cited as her motto a phrase used on Web sites that encourage girls to avoid eating.

In an interview with the fashion Web site WWD, Moss said one of her mottos is "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels."

The same slogan is posted on Web sites encouraging girls not to eat.

Mary George of British eating-disorder charity Beat called Moss' words "very unfortunate."

"Comments like this make it even more difficult" for young people struggling with an eating disorder," she said.

Model Katie Green, who is campaigning to stop the use of ultra-thin "size zero" models, told The Sun newspaper the comments were "shocking and irresponsible."

Moss, 35, is famous for her waiflike look, which helped spur a trend of superthin models in the 1990s.

Moss' modeling agency, Storm, said her words have been misinterpreted.

"This was part of a longer answer Kate gave during a wider-ranging interview, which has unfortunately been taken out of context and completely misrepresented," the agency says in a written statement. "For the record, Kate does not support this as a lifestyle choice."

Martin to help children in Puerto Rico

Latin superstar Ricky Martin said Thursday he is teaming up with a German broadcaster to support his foundation and build a youth center for children in his native Puerto Rico.

Multi-Grammy winning artist Martin told the AP he is joining RTL for a telethon to raise money to build the center in Loiza, near the capital, San Juan.

"The idea is to build a center, a safe haven for children that are at risk of exploitation, which is the main mission of my foundation."

The RTL telethon Thursday and Nov. 27 also will raise money for other international and German children's charities.

The center in Loiza will be able to accommodate 150 children and will offer art classes, meditation, martial arts and yoga, Martin said. It has been designed by University of Puerto Rico architecture students, and construction is to get under way next year.

Today's birthdays

Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.V., is 92. Nobel Prize-winning author Nadine Gordimer is 86. Actress-comedian Kaye Ballard is 84. TV personality Richard Dawson is 77. Comedian Dick Smothers is 71. Vice President Joe Biden is 67. Actress Veronica Hamel is 66. Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is 63. Actress Bo Derek is 53. Pianist Jim Brickman is 48. Rapper Mike D (The Beastie Boys) is 44. Actor Joel McHale is 38. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Dawes is 33. Actor Cody Linley is 20.

Source: The Associated Press