You can find information and support groups for just about anything on the world wide web.
And, while we’ve enjoyed unprecedented access to information on issues such as health, gardening, and car maintenance – it’s disturbing to think we can also access sites designed to help us with issues such as preventing tooth decay from chronic vomiting, concealing weight loss, and the best diuretics to buy.
Indeed, the internet is a giant double-edged cyber-sword. A study of pro-eating disorder websites conducted by Dina Borzekowski, of Johns Hopkins, looked at 180 sites in all and drew some sobering conclusions, including;
- 81% of the sites talked about control
- 80% of the sites talked about perfection
- 76% of the sites talked about solidarity
- 43% of the sites provided specific instructions on concealing an eating disorder
Says Borzekowski
They are reaching very vulnerable youth. Some people who create these messages stand behind what they are doing, while another fraction realize this is troubling and they are suffering. (Source)
Perhaps one of the more difficult issues in pinpointing such sites, is the blurry line of what is considered promoting dangerous practices. One could argue that there are many site that promote extreme dieting, and other practices that are of questionable safety. The problem is that many sites operate under the guise of “weight loss” and “health,” but have ulterior motives.
Can we do anything?
Sadly, pro eating disorder sites are constitutionally protected. Moreover, policing the internet is an expensive and frustrating game of “wack-a-mole”. The best we can do as health advocates, parents, and other concerned citizens, is draw awareness to the truths about the dangers of eating disorders.
Parents, educators and government health agencies need to band together to put good information out there.
Do you think we should attempt to ban pro-eating disorder sites? Should North American, and other countries, propose what France has in terms of punishing those who promote anorexia?
I’ll play devil’s advocate here but only because I struggle from anorexia nervosa. My point of view is simple: people will get their information somewhere and if one page is banned another will spring up and perhaps could be more dangerous than the last. It never ends. These “pro ana” support sites have been around for a decade. There’s threads, webpages, and now even social networking groups. They aren’t going anywhere. The internet is full of good and bad but the best thing to consider is this: if you are worried about your child being on one of these sites: TALK TO THEM! Be a good parent, stay involved in your kid’s life and teach them about good body image and ways to cope with the disappointments they may face in life. Pro ana brats are annoying to me, they seem to miss what anorexia is really about and a lot of times the girls who visit the sites want tips for quick weight loss and are in a normal weight range but then there are the girls who really do struggle from the disorder and 9 times out of 10 they go there out of loneliness or for support. Anorexia was never about getting thin for me, it started as purging when I was younger for controlling anxiety and when I grew older the restriction set in naturally. People are very ignorant of the whole subject personally. Many people believe all anorexics are vain. I think more should be done to shed light on the subject. There will always be illnesses in the world that we as people will have to struggle with in our lives so the best thing everyone can do is be knowledgeable and try to brave this world with an open heart. If your love one has Anorexia Nervosa don’t wait for their body to deteriorate before you talk to them. Be a good parent, be a a good spouse, friend, brother, sister: take notice of things and always communicate with those you love. Pro ana sites aren’t to blame for young girls developing anorexia, it’s the lack of parenting they’ve received, the abuse they’ve endured, molestation, lack of control, lack of confidence, etc. Wise up to it and take responsibility.
I thought they WERE banned, or at least shut down once discovered…? I remember looking at one years ago (I had to look at the cache of it because the actual site had already been taken down) out of curiosity and I could see how influential a site like that could be for vulnerable types like young women trying to figure themselves out. I guess we have free speech and all, but I think sites like that seem extremely dangerous..
This is such a tough issue! If you ban the sites then you lose the visibility of the issue. As a parent I found there are too many sites to keep track of and closing the sites wouldn’t result in the end of the issue at hand. There are great resources available though which raise awareness and give mom’s an opportunity to learn how to support their child (or improve their own body image). I’m familiar with Body Republic – http://www.bodyrepublic.org – they conduct workshops throughout the U.S. on body image and help parents find their way through it. I’ve found them to be really supportive.
Not surprisingly, there has been quite an uproar as the Internet has become host to Web sites and discussion groups where anorexics and bulimics (some young men, but mostly young women) openly and proudly discuss their conditions, trading tips on eating less and hiding it from parents and friends.
Low Testosterone
i say no banning. besides, they would just go underground anyway if they were. its bad enough we got do deal with the law off the net, let pro ed sites have their own little world if they want it!
Even if you COULD ban such sites (and what would be the criteria), I’m not sure if it would help the situation.
That said, the Internet has made it a whole lot easier to find enablement for a raft of addictions.
While I don’t condone pro-ana sites, I don’t think they should be banned entirely. Freedom of speech is freedom of speech and banning content on the internet is a dangerous thing to start doing. Besides, there are probably worse things on the internet that could be banned than pro-anorexia content. Also, a lot of anorexics start out as fat people that take losing weight too far. Some anorexics claim that what they do to maintain their low weight is “healthy” and sometimes it is to a certain extent. Doctors put very obese people on medically supervised 800 calorie per day diets–that is something that would be beneficial for a very obese person yet harmful for someone who is normal or underweight. It’s a very fine line…I think the best idea is to promote a healthy body image to girls so they don’t fall victim to anorexia in the first place.
No. Censorship is censorship, point blank. Where will it stop?
Personally, I have been a part of a large forum that may be considered “pro-ana” by some. The members truly care about one another and it should be noted that I would not be alive if it were not for their intervention and urging to get help. The site welcomes members in all stages of their eating disorder, whether they are completely in the throes, contemplating recovery, in treatment and recovered.
This site could potentially fall under said contemplated ban and I can’t imagine the effects it would have on people, myself included. As I said, I owe my life to them.
I think it’s a slippery slope once you start banning things on the internet. If it ever starts, it won’t stop and soon we’ll be trying to ban everything on the internet.
A double-edged sword indeed. I agree with Lala – the best we can do is promote healthy lifestyles and get the counter argument to pro-ana sites out there.
No i don’t think they should because it helps keeps girls and guys with the disorder alive longer especially when they are feeling lonely and suicidal it’s a great place for them to go to feel like they are a part of something and to feel that they aren’t as alone as they thought they were. If you get rid of that then they might feel they have no one they can talk to and keep all their feelings bottled up until they kill themselves one day. If you were lonely and had this kind of disorder wouldn’t you want someone to talk to or someone to understand and make you feel important and try to help make you feel happier? That’s the whole point of a pro ana site, to make girls with an eating disorder feel less alone, to show them that they are not the only one going through this and it shows them that they can be a part of something and if you get rid of that then what do they have, who do they have that understands them, who do they have that can listen to their problems when they don’t want to talk to their family, an eating disorder is a very lonely thing but with an online community it makes it a little easier to get through it.
I don’t think they should be banned. If they are banned, why not pro-smoking sites? Cooking sites that have recipes high in fat? Magazine sites that only feature thin, photoshopped models? Fat acceptance sites?
We should try to promote healthy lifestyles, but trying to ban sites that promote a different message is not a good idea.