Research Project
After writing a paper discussing pro-ana websites a final project was needed. I decided to make this website. A copy of my paper is below. It discusses types of pro-ana websites and treatment.
The Anorexic Internet
You’re sitting alone in your room with nothing to do. You don’t really have anyone to see because most of your friends have stopped talking to you. Your mom and dad are making lunch, but you want nothing to do with that. Your stomach growls so you drink another glass of water so make it stop hurting for a second. The only thing you can think about is eating, but more specifically, not eating. You grab your laptop and go to your favorite website. The home page of “House of Thin” greets you, and you immediately feel less on edge. You skip over the disclaimer page and head straight to the thinspiration. Your computer screen is suddenly filled with images of emaciated women. You wish more then anything you could look just like them. You fond over the women’s sunken faces and exposed rib cages. You click over to the tips and tricks section to see if the author has added anymore content about hiding your disorder. You’re in luck, the author talks about how you should paint your nails in order to hide the yellow tint of them because of the lack of nutrients. After browsing the tips and tricks section, you click over to the chat rooms. That’s when you feel the most relieved, you see that two of your “friends” are online and begin to talk to them. They are the ones that understand you the most. They are the only ones who have been there for you through this whole ordeal and you feel like you could tell these people anything. You feel a little less lonely because you know there are other people who are going through the same thing. You get up to use the bathroom, but as you’re about halfway there you start to feel weak and dizzy. You faint with a big “thunk” when you hit the ground. Mom and dad rush in to see what happened. The next thing you remember is waking up in the hospital with your parents and doctors standing over you. An IV is in your arm and you’re hooked up to a number of machines. You hear the doctor say that your heart is extremely weak and there is a big possibility that you’re going to have heart failure. It’s that moment that you realize you’re killing yourself.
In the United States, females between the ages of 15 to 24 are 12 times more likely to die from anorexia nervosa then any other cause of death. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by very little food intake and an irrational fear of gaining weight. Within the anorexia world lies a whole community of girls who have brought anorexia nervosa onto the Internet, Pro-Anorexia websites. There is an extreme outrage from the eating disorder community about these sites. Many believe that these sites teach girls how to become anorexia as noted by Emese Csipke and Outi Horne, authors of Pro-Eating Disorder Websites: Users’ Opinions, (Csipke et al 196). At first glance, these sites do seem to “promote” anorexia, however, when you dive deeper into the sites you understand how complex these websites are. Within the pro-ana world lies a discrepancy between adolescent females who believe anorexia is a lifestyle choice versus adolescent females who believe anorexia is a mental disorder. It is the lifestyle pro-ana sites that cause teen females the most harm. The mental disorder pro-ana sites employ aspects of harm-reduction theory to give emotional support and encourage treatment to the users to help these individuals manage their disorder. When these sites are use for social acceptance and emotional support I believe that they can become a way to successful treatment for those suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Pro-ana websites are a type of Internet community where adolescent females can learn about anorexia and other types of eating disorders. Many of these websites have similar content matter, although each website is unique because they are all ran by different people. First, almost every pro-ana sites contain “triggering” pictures, or thinspiration. Thinspiration is a collection of pictures of “ultra thin or emaciated” individuals in order to “inspire loyalty or distract from hunger” (Dias 35), like those shown in Figure 1.
The Anorexic Internet
You’re sitting alone in your room with nothing to do. You don’t really have anyone to see because most of your friends have stopped talking to you. Your mom and dad are making lunch, but you want nothing to do with that. Your stomach growls so you drink another glass of water so make it stop hurting for a second. The only thing you can think about is eating, but more specifically, not eating. You grab your laptop and go to your favorite website. The home page of “House of Thin” greets you, and you immediately feel less on edge. You skip over the disclaimer page and head straight to the thinspiration. Your computer screen is suddenly filled with images of emaciated women. You wish more then anything you could look just like them. You fond over the women’s sunken faces and exposed rib cages. You click over to the tips and tricks section to see if the author has added anymore content about hiding your disorder. You’re in luck, the author talks about how you should paint your nails in order to hide the yellow tint of them because of the lack of nutrients. After browsing the tips and tricks section, you click over to the chat rooms. That’s when you feel the most relieved, you see that two of your “friends” are online and begin to talk to them. They are the ones that understand you the most. They are the only ones who have been there for you through this whole ordeal and you feel like you could tell these people anything. You feel a little less lonely because you know there are other people who are going through the same thing. You get up to use the bathroom, but as you’re about halfway there you start to feel weak and dizzy. You faint with a big “thunk” when you hit the ground. Mom and dad rush in to see what happened. The next thing you remember is waking up in the hospital with your parents and doctors standing over you. An IV is in your arm and you’re hooked up to a number of machines. You hear the doctor say that your heart is extremely weak and there is a big possibility that you’re going to have heart failure. It’s that moment that you realize you’re killing yourself.
In the United States, females between the ages of 15 to 24 are 12 times more likely to die from anorexia nervosa then any other cause of death. Anorexia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by very little food intake and an irrational fear of gaining weight. Within the anorexia world lies a whole community of girls who have brought anorexia nervosa onto the Internet, Pro-Anorexia websites. There is an extreme outrage from the eating disorder community about these sites. Many believe that these sites teach girls how to become anorexia as noted by Emese Csipke and Outi Horne, authors of Pro-Eating Disorder Websites: Users’ Opinions, (Csipke et al 196). At first glance, these sites do seem to “promote” anorexia, however, when you dive deeper into the sites you understand how complex these websites are. Within the pro-ana world lies a discrepancy between adolescent females who believe anorexia is a lifestyle choice versus adolescent females who believe anorexia is a mental disorder. It is the lifestyle pro-ana sites that cause teen females the most harm. The mental disorder pro-ana sites employ aspects of harm-reduction theory to give emotional support and encourage treatment to the users to help these individuals manage their disorder. When these sites are use for social acceptance and emotional support I believe that they can become a way to successful treatment for those suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Pro-ana websites are a type of Internet community where adolescent females can learn about anorexia and other types of eating disorders. Many of these websites have similar content matter, although each website is unique because they are all ran by different people. First, almost every pro-ana sites contain “triggering” pictures, or thinspiration. Thinspiration is a collection of pictures of “ultra thin or emaciated” individuals in order to “inspire loyalty or distract from hunger” (Dias 35), like those shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Thinspiration pictures from Ana Boot Camp
In addition, many of these sites include a tips and tricks section where individuals can find ways to diet and hide their disorder, diary entries from the creator of the websites, and a chat and forum section. The content of these website has caused an outrage within the medical community.
The main controversy regarding pro-ana websites is the idea of promoting anorexia. The medical and eating disorder prevention community is outraged at the thought that pro-ana websites are teaching girls how to be anorexic. While that may be true for some pro-ana sites, it is not true for all. Many are also concerned with the notion that pro-ana means anti-recovery. This notion, however, may not be as true as many thought. When we take a look at lifestyle and mental disorder pro-ana sites we see that these assumptions are true for many of the lifestyle pro-ana sites, while not as true for many of the mental disorder pro-ana sites.
Although many of these sites contain similar content, there is a main difference between a lifestyle pro-ana site and a mental disorder pro-ana site. A lifestyle pro-ana site is a community where adolescent females believe that anorexia is a lifestyle choice rather than a mental disorder.
In addition, many of these sites include a tips and tricks section where individuals can find ways to diet and hide their disorder, diary entries from the creator of the websites, and a chat and forum section. The content of these website has caused an outrage within the medical community.
The main controversy regarding pro-ana websites is the idea of promoting anorexia. The medical and eating disorder prevention community is outraged at the thought that pro-ana websites are teaching girls how to be anorexic. While that may be true for some pro-ana sites, it is not true for all. Many are also concerned with the notion that pro-ana means anti-recovery. This notion, however, may not be as true as many thought. When we take a look at lifestyle and mental disorder pro-ana sites we see that these assumptions are true for many of the lifestyle pro-ana sites, while not as true for many of the mental disorder pro-ana sites.
Although many of these sites contain similar content, there is a main difference between a lifestyle pro-ana site and a mental disorder pro-ana site. A lifestyle pro-ana site is a community where adolescent females believe that anorexia is a lifestyle choice rather than a mental disorder.
Main Header from The Pro Ana Lifestyle
Although much of the content remains the same when compared to mental disorder pro-ana sites, “They [lifestyle pro-ana sites] move[d] away from the term anorexia altogether and instead use[d] language like way of life…” (Strife et al 215) as Samantha Strife, author of The Conceptualization of Anorexia: The Pro-Ana Perspective, noted. These types of pro-ana sites have the notion of anti-recovery. It is frowned upon to start treatment, because the individual has made the conscious choice to become anorexia and this type of pro-ana community believes that they are in control of what they are doing to their body, therefore there is no need for treatment. In addition, these types of pro-ana sites take the community aspect and emotional support to a whole new level when they encourage group starvations and alienate any individual who does not believe in the same anorexic ideals.
The other type of pro-ana site is the mental disorder website. This is a community of adolescent females who believe that anorexia is a mental disorder and these individuals had no control over developing anorexia. Much of the content is the same as lifestyle pro-ana sites such as, thinspiration, tips and tricks, and a chat and forum section. However, many of these pro-ana sites contain a disclaimer warning individuals about the type of content matter on these sites:
This site is a pro-ana website. This website is for support for those with an eating disorder who feel alone and by themself with this issue. I support the recovery of the individual when they are ready and will never support those who 'want an eating disorder'.
It is for support of those who already have anorexia / bulimia and/or those that accept people that are anorexic or bulimic.
Disclaimer from Ana Boot Camp
The main difference between these two websites is that mental disorder pro-ana sites do believe in recovery. Strife recognized that, “these authors seemed connected to the pro-ana community as a way to gain support for their perceived inevitable disease,” (Strife et al 216). Many of these sites contain links to pro-recovery sites and are very supportive of individuals decided to start recovery. In a study done by Codie Rouleau, and Kristin Ranson, authors of Potential Risks of Pro-Eating Disorder Websites, found that 38% of the pro-ana sites that they looked at contained a link to pro-recovery sites (Rouleau et al 528-529). Not to mention, many individuals are very supportive when someone on the website says they want to go into recovery. Emese Csipke and Outi Horne found that “Those who visited [pro-eating disorder websites] frequently also reported being encouraged to seek treatment,” (Csipke et al 200). There is a much strong push for support and treatment from individuals suffering from anorexia on mental disorder pro-ana sites then on lifestyle pro-ana sites.
Mental disorder pro-ana sites use, unknowingly, aspects of harm reduction theory. Harm reduction theory is a strategy used in order to reduce harm to an individual when they are unable to stop their destructive behavior such as drug use or in our case, anorexia. Because mental disorder sites strongly employ emotion support they are able to lessen the isolation that accompanies anorexia and show individuals that there are others suffering like them. Results from Csipke’s study showed that 43% of individuals received help in the form of emotion support by visiting these sites (Csipke et al 200). This can be very beneficial because in many cases when an individual develops anorexia they cut themselves off from society because they believe that no one understands them. This will ultimately leave these individuals alone to suffer with their disorder, which worsens with the isolation. In addition, Csipke also found that “those who visited frequently also reported being encouraged to seek treatment,” (Csipke et al 200) which is very important because that illustrates that mental disorder pro-ana sites encourage individuals to recover. Many of these sites go a step further by discourage individuals who are practicing extremely dangerous starvations methods. Mental disorder sites help individuals manage their disorder by providing a support system for those needing emotional support for those looking to begin treatment, which is part of the harm reduction theory.
However, in order for harm reduction to be successful there must be a change in the mindset of the participant and not just the people helping the individual. The individual involved must change from a passive recipient to an active participant (Einstiein 259) as noted by Einstiein, author of Harm and Risk Reduction: History, Theories, Issues, and Implications. Although, it has been found that pro-ana sites have helped individuals maintain their restrictive eating behavior Csipke found that active users on pro-ana sites felt better after visiting the site, had improved self-esteem after viewing the site, and encouraged to seek treatment much more then passive users (Csipke et al 200). Paradoxically, it seems that it is better for individuals to use pro-ana sites more actively then passively.
Combining harm reduction theory and mental disorder pro-ana sites could be the key to successful treatment for individuals suffering from anorexia. Successful treatment of anorexia nervosa is extremely difficult to achieve. When discussing treatment for addictions, treating an addict early on tends to be more successful because the addict has not been addicted to the substance for very long. However, in terms of anorexia, treating in the early stages of the disorder is usually unsuccessful (Dias 38) as noted by Karen Dias, author of The Ana Sanctuary: Women’s Pro-Anorexia Narratives in Cyberspace. This is because anorexia is characterized by an irrational fear of gaining weight; therefore the individual believes that treatment will cause them to gain weight. However, waiting to treat anorexia in the later stages seems to fail because the individual is either able to hide their disorder, has given up hope of ever getting better, has ended up in the hospital, or has past away.
If health experts combine the attractiveness of pro-ana sites with harm reduction theory that combination could result in successful treatment. Medical experts must realize that contemporary treatment methods are not working. Many adolescent females are able to find new tips on dieting on pro-recovery sites. In addition, many times when individuals are put into group therapy they find out new ways to fast, and binge and purge from other individuals suffering from eating disorders. Rather than discouraging usage of these websites, perhaps medical experts should take a second look at specifically mental disorder pro-ana sites. It was noted in Csipke’s study that active users were more interested in pro-ana sites for the diversions and jokes rather than the tips and tricks and thinspiration (Csipke et al 201). Therefore, active users are more concerned with the emotional support and distraction from their disorder rather than making their disorder worse. If high self-esteem and encouragement of treatment resulted from active use of mental disorder pro-ana sites then that should be a sign that these sites are not as harmful as the medical community is making them out to be.
Anorexia nervosa is a complex disorder. This disease is a type of disorder that can affect every aspect of your life. With the explosion of the social networks, pro-ana sites continue to grow everyday. Many of these pro-ana sites treat anorexia as a disorder and give individual emotional support and encourage individuals to go into treatment. A few sites, however, treat anorexia as a lifestyle choice and ultimately look down upon any individual who believes anorexia is a disorder and decides to begin treatment. The medical community has become increasingly concerned that many of these sites teach individuals how to become anorexic because of the sites content including tips and tricks, and thinspiration. However, medical experts seem to overlook the disclaimers that many of the mental disorder pro-ana sites contain, and seem to miss the emotional support and treatment encouragement that these types of pro-ana sites have. I do not believe that individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa should willing surf pro-ana sites. These sites can be extremely triggering and harmful. However, medical experts should be outraged at lifestyle pro-ana sites because in many ways these individuals who views these types of pro-ana sites are in more danger to themselves then those individuals who view mental disorder pro-ana sites and realize they have a disorder.
Mental disorder pro-ana sites use, perhaps unknowingly, aspects of harm reduction theory in their websites. By giving individuals emotional support and encouragement to begin treatment, it is helping individuals suffering from anorexia manage their disorder by lessening the isolation that accompanies anorexia and showing individuals that there are other people suffering like them. This ultimately helps individuals focus less on their disorder and leads individuals to a better chance of going into treatment. Medical experts should look at how these mental disorder pro-ana sites use harm reduction theory in their websites because that may be the key to more successful treatment programs for individual’s suffering from anorexia nervosa.
This solution, however, leaves those individuals who believe that anorexia is a lifestyle choice out to fend for themselves. In many ways, they are at a much greater risk of harming themselves because they do not recognize how dangerous their behavior is. In addition, these individuals do not realize they should go into treatment because they do not think they have a problem. In order to treat these individuals, it must start with an individuals change of mindset from believe that they are indestructible to anorexia to realizing that they are ultimately killing themselves. Then it should be up the medical community to be outraged at the lifestyle pro-ana sites. It is these types of pro-ana sites that are teaching individuals how to become anorexic and praise individuals for starving themselves. I do not believe that pro-ana websites are a productive site for individual’s suffering from anorexia to look at. I do believe however, that mental disorder pro-ana sites can ultimately help individuals cope with their disorder and could potentially lead individuals to begin treatment. The medical community must recognize the difference between mental disorder pro-ana sites and lifestyle pro-ana sites. From there they could possibly use they harm reduction aspects that mental disorder pro-ana sites (unknowingly) use to help better treatment programs for individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Works Cited
Ana Boot Camp. N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://anabootcamp.weebly.com/index.html>.
The Pro Ana Lifestyle. N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://proanalifestyle.blogspot.com/>.
Csipke, Emese, and Outi Horne. "Pro-Eating Disorder Websites: Users’ Opinions." InterScience. 15 (1007): 196-206. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Dias, Karen. "The Ana Sanctuary: Women’s pro-anorexia narratives in cyberspace." Journal of International Women’s Studies 4.2 (2003): 31-45.
Einstein, S. "Harm and Risk Reduction: History, Theories, Issues, and Implications." Informa. 42.1028 (2007): 257-265. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.
Rouleau, Codie, and Kristin Ranson. "Clinical Psychology Review." Clinical Psychology Review. 31 (2011): 525-. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Strife, Samantha, and Kathryn Rickard. "The Conceptualization of Anorexia: The Pro-Ana Perspective." Affilia. 26.2 (2011): 213-217. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Although much of the content remains the same when compared to mental disorder pro-ana sites, “They [lifestyle pro-ana sites] move[d] away from the term anorexia altogether and instead use[d] language like way of life…” (Strife et al 215) as Samantha Strife, author of The Conceptualization of Anorexia: The Pro-Ana Perspective, noted. These types of pro-ana sites have the notion of anti-recovery. It is frowned upon to start treatment, because the individual has made the conscious choice to become anorexia and this type of pro-ana community believes that they are in control of what they are doing to their body, therefore there is no need for treatment. In addition, these types of pro-ana sites take the community aspect and emotional support to a whole new level when they encourage group starvations and alienate any individual who does not believe in the same anorexic ideals.
The other type of pro-ana site is the mental disorder website. This is a community of adolescent females who believe that anorexia is a mental disorder and these individuals had no control over developing anorexia. Much of the content is the same as lifestyle pro-ana sites such as, thinspiration, tips and tricks, and a chat and forum section. However, many of these pro-ana sites contain a disclaimer warning individuals about the type of content matter on these sites:
This site is a pro-ana website. This website is for support for those with an eating disorder who feel alone and by themself with this issue. I support the recovery of the individual when they are ready and will never support those who 'want an eating disorder'.
It is for support of those who already have anorexia / bulimia and/or those that accept people that are anorexic or bulimic.
Disclaimer from Ana Boot Camp
The main difference between these two websites is that mental disorder pro-ana sites do believe in recovery. Strife recognized that, “these authors seemed connected to the pro-ana community as a way to gain support for their perceived inevitable disease,” (Strife et al 216). Many of these sites contain links to pro-recovery sites and are very supportive of individuals decided to start recovery. In a study done by Codie Rouleau, and Kristin Ranson, authors of Potential Risks of Pro-Eating Disorder Websites, found that 38% of the pro-ana sites that they looked at contained a link to pro-recovery sites (Rouleau et al 528-529). Not to mention, many individuals are very supportive when someone on the website says they want to go into recovery. Emese Csipke and Outi Horne found that “Those who visited [pro-eating disorder websites] frequently also reported being encouraged to seek treatment,” (Csipke et al 200). There is a much strong push for support and treatment from individuals suffering from anorexia on mental disorder pro-ana sites then on lifestyle pro-ana sites.
Mental disorder pro-ana sites use, unknowingly, aspects of harm reduction theory. Harm reduction theory is a strategy used in order to reduce harm to an individual when they are unable to stop their destructive behavior such as drug use or in our case, anorexia. Because mental disorder sites strongly employ emotion support they are able to lessen the isolation that accompanies anorexia and show individuals that there are others suffering like them. Results from Csipke’s study showed that 43% of individuals received help in the form of emotion support by visiting these sites (Csipke et al 200). This can be very beneficial because in many cases when an individual develops anorexia they cut themselves off from society because they believe that no one understands them. This will ultimately leave these individuals alone to suffer with their disorder, which worsens with the isolation. In addition, Csipke also found that “those who visited frequently also reported being encouraged to seek treatment,” (Csipke et al 200) which is very important because that illustrates that mental disorder pro-ana sites encourage individuals to recover. Many of these sites go a step further by discourage individuals who are practicing extremely dangerous starvations methods. Mental disorder sites help individuals manage their disorder by providing a support system for those needing emotional support for those looking to begin treatment, which is part of the harm reduction theory.
However, in order for harm reduction to be successful there must be a change in the mindset of the participant and not just the people helping the individual. The individual involved must change from a passive recipient to an active participant (Einstiein 259) as noted by Einstiein, author of Harm and Risk Reduction: History, Theories, Issues, and Implications. Although, it has been found that pro-ana sites have helped individuals maintain their restrictive eating behavior Csipke found that active users on pro-ana sites felt better after visiting the site, had improved self-esteem after viewing the site, and encouraged to seek treatment much more then passive users (Csipke et al 200). Paradoxically, it seems that it is better for individuals to use pro-ana sites more actively then passively.
Combining harm reduction theory and mental disorder pro-ana sites could be the key to successful treatment for individuals suffering from anorexia. Successful treatment of anorexia nervosa is extremely difficult to achieve. When discussing treatment for addictions, treating an addict early on tends to be more successful because the addict has not been addicted to the substance for very long. However, in terms of anorexia, treating in the early stages of the disorder is usually unsuccessful (Dias 38) as noted by Karen Dias, author of The Ana Sanctuary: Women’s Pro-Anorexia Narratives in Cyberspace. This is because anorexia is characterized by an irrational fear of gaining weight; therefore the individual believes that treatment will cause them to gain weight. However, waiting to treat anorexia in the later stages seems to fail because the individual is either able to hide their disorder, has given up hope of ever getting better, has ended up in the hospital, or has past away.
If health experts combine the attractiveness of pro-ana sites with harm reduction theory that combination could result in successful treatment. Medical experts must realize that contemporary treatment methods are not working. Many adolescent females are able to find new tips on dieting on pro-recovery sites. In addition, many times when individuals are put into group therapy they find out new ways to fast, and binge and purge from other individuals suffering from eating disorders. Rather than discouraging usage of these websites, perhaps medical experts should take a second look at specifically mental disorder pro-ana sites. It was noted in Csipke’s study that active users were more interested in pro-ana sites for the diversions and jokes rather than the tips and tricks and thinspiration (Csipke et al 201). Therefore, active users are more concerned with the emotional support and distraction from their disorder rather than making their disorder worse. If high self-esteem and encouragement of treatment resulted from active use of mental disorder pro-ana sites then that should be a sign that these sites are not as harmful as the medical community is making them out to be.
Anorexia nervosa is a complex disorder. This disease is a type of disorder that can affect every aspect of your life. With the explosion of the social networks, pro-ana sites continue to grow everyday. Many of these pro-ana sites treat anorexia as a disorder and give individual emotional support and encourage individuals to go into treatment. A few sites, however, treat anorexia as a lifestyle choice and ultimately look down upon any individual who believes anorexia is a disorder and decides to begin treatment. The medical community has become increasingly concerned that many of these sites teach individuals how to become anorexic because of the sites content including tips and tricks, and thinspiration. However, medical experts seem to overlook the disclaimers that many of the mental disorder pro-ana sites contain, and seem to miss the emotional support and treatment encouragement that these types of pro-ana sites have. I do not believe that individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa should willing surf pro-ana sites. These sites can be extremely triggering and harmful. However, medical experts should be outraged at lifestyle pro-ana sites because in many ways these individuals who views these types of pro-ana sites are in more danger to themselves then those individuals who view mental disorder pro-ana sites and realize they have a disorder.
Mental disorder pro-ana sites use, perhaps unknowingly, aspects of harm reduction theory in their websites. By giving individuals emotional support and encouragement to begin treatment, it is helping individuals suffering from anorexia manage their disorder by lessening the isolation that accompanies anorexia and showing individuals that there are other people suffering like them. This ultimately helps individuals focus less on their disorder and leads individuals to a better chance of going into treatment. Medical experts should look at how these mental disorder pro-ana sites use harm reduction theory in their websites because that may be the key to more successful treatment programs for individual’s suffering from anorexia nervosa.
This solution, however, leaves those individuals who believe that anorexia is a lifestyle choice out to fend for themselves. In many ways, they are at a much greater risk of harming themselves because they do not recognize how dangerous their behavior is. In addition, these individuals do not realize they should go into treatment because they do not think they have a problem. In order to treat these individuals, it must start with an individuals change of mindset from believe that they are indestructible to anorexia to realizing that they are ultimately killing themselves. Then it should be up the medical community to be outraged at the lifestyle pro-ana sites. It is these types of pro-ana sites that are teaching individuals how to become anorexic and praise individuals for starving themselves. I do not believe that pro-ana websites are a productive site for individual’s suffering from anorexia to look at. I do believe however, that mental disorder pro-ana sites can ultimately help individuals cope with their disorder and could potentially lead individuals to begin treatment. The medical community must recognize the difference between mental disorder pro-ana sites and lifestyle pro-ana sites. From there they could possibly use they harm reduction aspects that mental disorder pro-ana sites (unknowingly) use to help better treatment programs for individuals suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Works Cited
Ana Boot Camp. N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://anabootcamp.weebly.com/index.html>.
The Pro Ana Lifestyle. N.p., n. d. Web. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. <http://proanalifestyle.blogspot.com/>.
Csipke, Emese, and Outi Horne. "Pro-Eating Disorder Websites: Users’ Opinions." InterScience. 15 (1007): 196-206. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Dias, Karen. "The Ana Sanctuary: Women’s pro-anorexia narratives in cyberspace." Journal of International Women’s Studies 4.2 (2003): 31-45.
Einstein, S. "Harm and Risk Reduction: History, Theories, Issues, and Implications." Informa. 42.1028 (2007): 257-265. Web. 20 Nov. 2012.
Rouleau, Codie, and Kristin Ranson. "Clinical Psychology Review." Clinical Psychology Review. 31 (2011): 525-. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Strife, Samantha, and Kathryn Rickard. "The Conceptualization of Anorexia: The Pro-Ana Perspective." Affilia. 26.2 (2011): 213-217. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.