Is a pro ana website, blog or internet chat rooms dangerous? What are some tips for navigating through sites that condone eating disorders?
A pro ana website and blog, or pro anorexia, have been inundating the internet for years now. Filled with page after page of encouragement of an "anorexic lifestyle," these sites are run by individuals suffering from anorexia themselves and gather others who want to talk in chat rooms.
They offer "support" for those entangled in the life of eating disorders by creating a community of others who want to be sick. The same feeling of being in a community to, for example, exercise more regularily, occurs within the chat rooms, email lists and blogs of these anorexics.
The big difference is, they're not concerned with getting better, but maintaining their sickness. "Thinspiration" photos of well-known celebrities who are extremely skinny, such as Nicole Richie, Keira Knightly, Victoria Beckham, Mischa Barton and Lindsey Lohan, adorn the pages as a motivation to keep losing weight. The more bones they show, the better worth of the photos.
The sites also offer tips on "how to be anorexic," as well as a letter from "Ana" (anorexia) and entries from anorexics on how much they ate that day and how much they weigh. Rewards are sometimes given to those who make progress quickly and a bond is formed between participants.
Authorities in Spain have recently moved to closed down a pro ana website, shortly after banning underweight models in their fashion shows. This specific site rewarded readers with a diploma for those who ate the least amount of calories.
But can we ban a pro ana website and blog because they are so fatally dangerous? Or is it a breech of freedom of speech?
The copyright of the article Pro Ana Website, Blog and Chat Rooms in Anorexia Nervosa is owned by Lori Henry. Permission to republish Pro Ana Website, Blog and Chat Rooms in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
noone knows what it feels like... i just want the pain to go
away... and be beautiful..
May 28, 2009 1:45 PM
Guest :
I don't believe the write has never been on an actual pro-miAna website and
that he/she is mixing pro-ana sites with wannarexic websites. the
word Pro doesn't mean promote, it's pro-active. Pro-ana sites fight for the
right to seek support and understanding, and never promote that hell onto
anyone. and you cannot "become" anorexic, pro-Ana doesn't
teach you that. Usually there's warnings before actual pro-Ana website
which says it's only for people with ED or who has suffered it. Pro-Ana
sites are not for people who want to become anorecxic, they're told to
leave the page. Pro-Ana's don't think their illness is not a big
deal. Pro-Ana website neither encourage anorexic people stay anorexic,
now you see that is the difference between pro-recovery sites and pro-ana
sites. Pro-Ana treats the person instead of disease. Eating disorders are
deep rooted problems and it's much more effective to get rid of the main
root than get rid of sometihing that just comes back instantly. Once
the root is gone, the consequense of eating disorders are that much easier
to recover from and the process will be a lasting one.
so
summaring everything up, I myself was first against pro-ana and mia
websites but then I actually found out about things and facts. I think
pro-Ana helps you to recover from your disease in your own speed, when
you're ready for it by support of others.
you should be open
minded and find about the facts before judging people and their ways of
doing things. Pro-Ana helped me to recover and I courage anorexic and
bulimic people to get help.
ps. Sorry my English, I'm just a
foreign 17-year-old girl with my own opinions :)
Oct 21, 2009 11:02 AM
Guest :
it dosent matter how you look you look beautiful weather you thin or a
little chubby but it dosent matter just accept yourself
Jan 31, 2007
