QuoteThere was a time when "rock star" meant long hair, ripped jeans, leather pants and studded belts.

Now the look is frequently defined by body type. And that means thin, wiry builds reminiscent of the late '60s hippie culture and underground '80s Goth chic.

With the popularity of "emo" (short for "emotional punk") and the resurgence of Gothic glam, some of today's rockers are becoming frighteningly -- some say dangerously -- skinny.

But what's alarming, experts agree, is both genders are immersing themselves in the look. Skinny is in -- not just for girls, but for guys too.

"Older kids who feel they are fat will say 'I need to lose more weight' even though they are skinny. They're concerned with body imaging," says Dr. Manju Thomas, a pediatrician with Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown.