PARIS, France (Reuters) -- German designer Karl Lagerfeld on Wednesday shrugged off concerns about the fashion industry's obsession with ultra-thin models, noting countries such as France rather had problems with a rise in overweight people.

Madrid last month sparked a controversy when it banned excessively thin models from its catwalks after accusations their appearance may cause eating disorders in young women.

But the runways in Paris this week have been filled by girls with child-like figures and stick-thin legs.

"We don't see anorexic (girls). The girls are skinny. They have skinny bones," Lagerfeld told reporters after his show, which saw models parade out in tiny short dresses, barely covering their almost non-existent behinds.

Asked whether the fashion industry was to blame for eating disorders of many young girls who were starving themselves, the designer said: "No, that is something to sell papers."

The pony-tailed Lagerfeld, who has himself drastically shed weight, is presenting clothes for his Karl Lagerfeld label in Paris, as well as for fashion house Chanel.

The multi-tasking fashion icon edits books and shoots fashion photographs for glossy magazines, and also created a one-off collection for Swedish retailer H&M.

Lagerfeld said the rise in the number of overweight people in many countries was a problem.

"In a country like France, with 18 percent of girls in the (northern region of) Pas de Calais being too fat -- I think they needed more treatment than the zero-point-I-don't-know percent of the too skinny ones," he said.

It was not clear which numbers Lagerfeld was referring to. A recent survey showed almost a third of French people were overweight and 12.4 percent were obese, while around 5 percent were underweight.

Models presenting the Karl Lagerfeld collection paraded out in tight uniform style shirts, featuring tie-like lapels, others presented long floating transparent dresses with ruffles, wearing tights with large flowers on their thin legs.

Lagerfeld's comments came after other designers shrugged off fashion's responsibility for the hype to be skinny.

Designer Giorgio Armani has blamed stylists and the media for the fashion industry's obsession with ultra-thin women.

Burberry's designer Christopher Bailey said he was very thin but was able to eat like a horse, noting people had to be conscious and sensible about the issue and use common sense.

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