The Danger Posed By Pro-Ana Sites

For anorexics or bulimics who are recovering, there exists an additional temptation: pro-anorexic (or pro-ana) websites.  These are sites in which anorexia or bulimia are promoted as actual lifestyles rather than unhealthy medical conditions.  Many of the members are teenage females, though occasionally there are males as well as older people who join. 

Typical conversation in a pro-ana forum will focus on how members can lose more weight.  Rarely are members actually overweight, though many will think they are.  For example, in one pro-ana forum, a member who was 5'3 and 123 pounds thought her weight was 'gross.'  But in actuality, she was 100% healthy, at least according to the BMI which puts her at 21.8. 

Yet, this matters little to most pro-ana members, who judge themselves according to the latest celebrities who even the media criticizes as being too thin.  In fact, many pro-ana sites are littered with pictures showcasing these types of celebrities.  Members may also post their pics when they feel they've attained the perfect body.  And for them the perfect body is one of skeletal proportions.  They may also even find pride in the lanugo that grows on their body during the course of their illness. 

To make matters worse, some pro-ana webmasters market their sites as being communities for anorexic or bulimic networking, making some think they are designed to help individuals recover from their illness.  Very few are.  Some may make the distinction by providing a disclaimer on their site.  On this disclaimer they notify the person of their true intention and may even warn them against visiting if they are trying to recover for real.  Others will offer no distinction.  And although the recovering anorexic or bulimic will quickly see the difference once they visit the site, they may be too entranced with the messages to click away.

So, what can loved ones do to prevent an eating disorder sufferer from being tempted by these types of sites?  They could try getting Internet filtering software that would restrict the person from assessing those sites, though there are ways to get around this, particularly if one is computer-savvy.  This leaves only one other option… completely restricting the eating disorder sufferer's access to the Internet, at least until a person is strong enough to resist their influence.

Of course, if an eating disorder sufferer is out on their own, loved ones will not be able restrict their access to these types of sites.  So, what can one do then?  The best option is discussing with the person why these sites are dangerous. 

They need to show how juvenile the mindsets are among the individuals participating, along with how the type of body being promoted is not only unhealthy, but generally not attractive even for individuals claiming to like 'thin.'  Most people do not want to see bones on a prospective mate.  In fact, even Hollywood doesn't like that look, as there is no shortage of news reports of the modeling and acting industry poking fun at those deemed to be too skinny. 

Granted, much more work needs to be done, because the industry is 1,000 times more demeaning to those they deem as being 'fat', but it still doesn't hurt to point out that they do criticize people who are too thin.  Either way, discussions about pro-ana sites need to be done both personally and through family sessions with the anorexic's or bulimic's psychologist/psychiatrist. 

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