Eating Disorder Websites or Things I don't understand

[cat9tails]

I like eating too much.

In some of the darkest corners of the Internet lurk websites that actually promote eating disorders.
Users post pictures of gaunt celebrities to motivate each other to strive for emaciation, calling it "thinspiration." They offer tips on how to lose weight and how to hide the disease from loved ones. Some even personify anorexia and bulimia as supreme beings Ana and Mia — goddesses meant to be worshiped and pleased.

A new study, published in the June 17 edition of the American Journal of Public Health, analyzes 180 of these sites, represents the most comprehensive survey of the phenomenon to date. Researchers found that most of the sites had interactive features and were more sophisticated in cutivating user communities than such sites were in their earlier days.

"It's important to know what's out there — especially in this ever-changing media environment," says the study’s lead author Dina L.G. Borzekowski, who researches the influence of media on children's health at Johns Hopkins University.

Earlier studies have found sites like these could hurt young peoples' self esteem, quality of life and prolong the duration of eating disorders.

Of the sites Borzekowski's team evaluated, 79 percent were interactive. These sites let users communicate with each other or use weight-loss tools, such as body mass index calculators.

Community is an important aspect of these sites, Borzekowski says. "I think one of the issues for people who are suffering from these disorders is that they feel extremely isolated — that there are few people who they can speak to about what they're thinking and what they're doing," she says.

And these sites are making it easier for eating disorder sufferers to congregate. When these websites started showing up in the late 1990s, they didn't have some of the capabilities they do now.

"They're much more interactive," Borzekowski says. Some websites allow users to post not only comments but also artwork, poetry and even video files.

Borzekowski says her research is only a snapshot of what's out there and that the landscape keeps changing. Now, people are using Twitter and other social networking sites to promote disease, she says.

The paper concludes that "attempts could be made to regulate pro-eating disorder sites," while acknowledging abundant challenges to doing so.
Websites That Encourage Eating Disorders Grow More Sophisticated : NPR
Countering The Online World Of 'Pro-Anorexia' : NPR

[Victor29]

They should be banned!

[manticore]

Pro-ana sites are dreck, but the internet is a wild west zone. It would probably be easier to get net-nannies to filter them than to get rid of the sites. Adults have the right to looked at fucked up stuff online. Parents should just have ways to block it.

[timmy_too_far]

They should be banned!

they shouldnt really be banned, people should just learn to use their own heads. DUH anorexia and obesity arent healthy, no matter what these sites say. the internet is craaazeh!

[mimseycal]

Banning stuff is not sustainable in the long run; in a way it may even be counter-productive. We'd do better to equip children with a capacity for judgement, discernment and a sense of self preservation and self respect.

Regarding food related disorders ... Well, there is a lot to be said for make food less of a battleground, eating as part of a family as often as possible where the food is but an accompaniment to sharing the events of the day, enjoying each others successes and commiserating with the flops; acknowledging the value and worth of each and every member of the group by the act of sharing.

[timey]

Yeah, in a perfect worlkd this would all happen. But it isn't ...

[peaceplease]

At first glance, some sites can seem pro-anorexic. I was searching on Google for this type of thing because your post got me interested. I found a site called PrettyThin, which is a place for people to talk about anorexia. This site is pretty much an open discussion about people with anorexia or people who have had it. There is no outside discussion however, so I think it wouldn't actually help the people who post there. If you are anorexic, and talk to someone else who is anorexic, what can you really gain except a different perspective on the same thing?