Pro-anorexia Web sites
By Constance Rhodes
Sixteen years ago I was a freshman at
If you are someone who works with young people today, particularly young girls, it's vital to understand the phenomenon of Web sites that actively promote disordered eating. Such sites are often referred to as pro-ana (anorexia) and/or pro-mia (bulimia). For the purposes of this article, however, we'll simply refer to them as pro-ed (eating disorders).
Please note: In the interest of providing an honest and helpful representation of the potential dangers these sites pose, I am including specific examples and content that could be harmful or triggering to someone struggling with eating issues. Please bear that in mind when considering who you share this article with. It is not recommended that this article be distributed to teens.
Tone and feel
In general, the bulk of the sites' content is written by bright, studious and creative girls who are themselves struggling with eating disorders. The tone varies from somewhat immature views and writing styles to those that are deeply philosophical and brilliantly conveyed, however unhealthy their message.
On a positive note, creative expression is often promoted through the sharing of poetry, song lyrics and stories written by those familiar with the struggle. Unfortunately, however, there is also no shortage of foul, angry and frustrated language, sometimes communicated by the site host, and more often by those who write in to share their opinions.
When it comes to the feel of these sites, most of those I visited were very dark visually, often featuring a black or dark background with reversed out text which is usually white but sometimes red or other colors that may not be easy to read. This unappealing design style probably stems from the fact that many young site hosts have little experience designing Web sites, and/or may simply be mimicking other sites. But I also feel it is a reflection of the inherent darkness of this disease (or ‘lifestyle,' as pro-ed sites prefer to call it). I did find one or two sites featuring clean, light colored pages with tastefully arranged text, but these seem to be the exception, not the rule.
Sexual objectification of women
Another fairly consistent aspect of pro-ed sites is the portrayal of women as sexual objects. Depending on the personal taste (and sometimes weight) of the site host, these images can vary, from beautiful, normal-bodied women, to slim celebrities, to shockingly skeletal anorexics (think Karen Carpenter, minus 15 or 20 pounds).
And then there are the images I would consider to be of a more pornographic nature. For example, a site titled "Fragile Innocence" opens with an image of a woman—completely nude with the exception of a pair of shin-length black boots—lying on her side on a dirty floor. Her bent arm covers her face and the photo has been artistically altered to incorporate red, orange and yellow tones, adding darkness and increasing the tension of the image. The caption reads "wasted."
While not all sites feature imagery of this dark a nature, many include photos of women wearing a vacant, hollow stare. And many of them are nude or scantily clad.
"It's not surprising that these sites feature highly sexual content," says Ann Capper, a nutritionist who works with disordered eaters. "Girls and women are consistently objectified and sexualized in the media. The site hosts are only mimicking what they see."
Dr. Carla Garber, a
But actual site hosts don't always see things this way. "I think you should be aware of the line between nudity and pornography," writes Lisa, an 18-year-old pro-ed visitor and site host. "I don't see that [Fragile Innocence] picture as erotic; rather, the nudity is expressing the stripped-nakedness of what appears to be a breakdown."
And Katie, a 15-year-old who spends 52 hours a week on pro-ed sites (including her own) tells me, "There is really no relation between pornography and our ‘thinspiration' pics … it's just saying ‘look, this is how thin I am without my clothes on … you wanna be like this don't you?' Nothing really more."
Regardless of what site hosts believe about the photos they post, it is clear the objectification of women is a large and unavoidable influence on these sites and in regard to eating disorders in general. It should also be noted that, while significantly fewer in number, there are sites aimed at males that objectify men in a similar manner.
"Thinspiration"
A prominent feature on any self-respecting pro-ed site, the ‘thinspiration' section can normally be split into two parts: images, and quotes/writings designed to help ‘inspire' the visitor to continue farther on into their disordered eating behavior.
Images
Images can range from photos of normal bodied, pretty women to those who are nearly dead of self-starvation. Many of the sites feature the same gaggle of celebrities (termed ‘idols' by some), including Kate Moss, Christina Aguilera, Calista Flockhart and Debra Messing. Some sites keep track of celebrities' weight fluctuations, showing "high weight" and "low weight" photos of selected stars. Others include ‘bone pictures'—shocking photos of anorexics in the final stages of the disease, with so little flesh that their bones and veins are painfully visible.
In addition to photos of thin women, several sites also feature ‘reverse thinspiration' images of overweight or grossly obese women, designed to scare the visitor into ‘sticking with the program.' Cartoons, drawings and other artistic expressions related to dieting, starving, exercising, etc. may also appear. Normally the images are accompanied by a thinspiration quote.
Quotes
Very popular on these sites, thinspiration quotes range from the innocuous, "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips," and "You can never be too rich or too thin," to the more forceful "If it tastes good, it's trying to kill you," and "Hunger hurts but starving works."
On many sites, stronger exhortations appear, such as this one: "You've made a decision: you will NOT stop. The pain is necessary, especially the pain of hunger. It reassures you that you are strong, can withstand anything."
Distractions
Another popular feature is lists of "distractions"—things to help keep a person's mind off the fact they are starving. Some of these I found were, "go on a walk," "clean your house until everything looks untouched," and "read the newspaper—every word of it."
The sites readily acknowledge that everything in life must now revolve around eating, calories and weight, and are full of ideas about how to stay ‘on track' with one's eating disorder.
Creeds, codes and psalms
Offering a glimpse of the struggle are so-called creeds, codes and "psalms" that reveal the ideology of the disordered eater's world. Following are two examples from a site called "Fragile Innocence":
Ana's creed
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I believe in CONTROL, the only force mighty enough to bring order to the chaos that is my world.
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I believe that I am the most vile, worthless and useless person to ever have existed on the planet, and that I am totally unworthy of anyone's time and attention.
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I believe that other people who tell me differently are idiots. If they could see how I really am, then they would hate me almost as much as I do.
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I believe in PERFECTION and strive to attain it.
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I believe in salvation through trying just a bit harder than I did yesterday.
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I believe in bathroom scales as an indicator of my daily successes and failures.
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I believe in hell, because I sometimes think that I am living it.
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I believe in a wholly black and white world, the losing of weight, recrimination for sins, abnegation of the body and a life ever fasting.
Psalm
Strict is my diet. I must not want. It maketh me to lie down at night hungry. It leadeth me past the confectioners. It trieth my willpower. It leadeth me into the paths of alteration for my figure's sake … Before me is a table set with green beans and lettuce. I filleth my stomach with liquids. My day's quota runneth over. Surely calorie and weight charts will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the fear of scales forever.
These writings reflect the often cult-like religious fervor with which many extreme disordered eaters approach their relationship with food. Notice the high level of self-hate conveyed—a key indicator of the incredible role that love can play in bringing a disordered eater to a healthier place.
Tips, tricks and FAQs
Prominent on most sites is a section dedicated to tips and tricks. For example:
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Put an elastic band around your wrist and snap it every time you think about food; food will become a hurtful thing.
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Get a night job so you can skip out on dinner with the family by saying you will eat at work (and then don't).
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Purge in the shower, the noise should be blocked out and it's less unpleasant than the alternatives.
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Use a toothbrush—easier to vomit and you won't scar your knuckles.
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Don't eat/drink anything that is a red color. When vomiting, in some cases bleeding may occur and you won't know if it's serious, or just what you ate or drank.
A similar feature is FAQs, where typical questions include "How do I purge?" "How many calories do I have to eat to stay alive?" and "How do I keep my hair from falling out?" Here's an example:
Q. I need good excuses for not eating. My mother has become suspicious and I need to fast. I just can't fast during dinner hours.
A. Have you tried: 1) spitting your food into a cup or napkin instead of eating it? 2) Pleading sick? 3) Say you already ate (stash wrappers of food, dirty up plates, etc. for "proof")? 4) Just eat as little as you can. Might as well eat just a little bit so you can keep your metabolism going. 5) Become a vegetarian or a vegan.
Not surprisingly, this type of peer-to-peer advice has an incredibly strong influence on the reader, and can prove very harmful to anyone already susceptible to disordered eating behavior.
Letter From Ana/Mia
The final area I'd like to mention is the ironic element of the "Letter from Ana" (or Mia). These letters vary in content, but are generally full of scathingly abusive remarks proclaiming Ana's or Mia's full and total power over the disordered eater. Consider these snippets from one of the letters I found:
"Dear _____ (enter your name). Allow me to introduce myself. My name, or as I am called by so called ‘doctors' is Bulimia … but you can call me Mia … Everyone says you are ‘so mature,' ‘intelligent,' ‘14 going on 45' and you possess so much potential. Where has that gotten you, may I ask? Nowhere! You are not perfect, and you do not try hard enough. Furthermore you waste your time on thinking and talking with friends and drawing! Such acts of indulgence shall not be allowed in the future … You are allowed to eat. I will not deprive you from your one true joy in life. A real friend wouldn't do that. But I will help you to compensate for your eating … I am there when you figure out the plan for the day: 1,500 calories, six hours exercise, purge four times, take seven laxatives. I am the one figuring this out, because by now my thoughts and yours are blurred together as one … Pretty soon I am telling you not only what to do with food, but what to do ALL of the time. Smile and nod. Present yourself well. Suck in that fat stomach, dammit! God, you are such a fat cow! You will always be fat and will never be as beautiful as [your friends] are. When you look in the mirror, I will distort the image … No one must find out, no one can crack this shell that I have covered you with. I have created you, this disciplined, perfect, achieving child. You are mine and mine alone. Without me, you are nothing …"
A difficult battle
If you've never experienced an eating disorder, you might be wondering "Why would anyone willingly choose to ‘obey' such a cruel master?" It's important to know that eating disorders, especially when they reach extreme stages of anorexia or bulimia, rob their victims of much more than healthy eating habits. A disordered eater does not have the balanced nutrition necessary for their brain to function well, and for them to make logical and healthy decisions. Indeed all parts of their being—physical, mental, emotional and spiritual—are compromised as they fall further into the disorder. For these and other reasons, it can be difficult to help those who struggle with disordered eating, especially if you are not experienced in this area.
What should you do?
If you know someone you suspect may be struggling with an eating disorder, you may feel frustrated, confused or even hopeless when it comes to helping them. Here are a few tips you might find helpful:
1. Understand that eating disorders are incredibly personal and complicated, and that the person is probably not interested in talking about their issues with you or anyone else. Try not to feel hurt, frustrated or offended if they brush you off.
2. Let them know you care about them, that you value their ideas and contributions to others, and that you are concerned for them.
3. Make a point of expressing love to them. Give them hugs, and show interest in various aspects of their life (not just their eating/weight).
4. Let them know you're available to talk about anything that's on their mind.
5. Pray for them regularly, and let them know that you do.
6. Tell them that your desire is that they might find the joy of discovering God's ultimate purpose for their lives. A statement like this gives a person incentive to consider breaking free from things that might be standing in the way of his/her dreams, passions and purpose.
7. Once they admit they struggle, offer to help them find someone to talk with about their eating issues (i.e. counselor, therapist, nutritionist, etc.).
Find Alternatives
In addition to these things, it's good to know what alternatives are out there when it comes to Web sites that provide more positive content. Here are a few to check out:
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"Your Body Is a
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www.findingbalance.com is a site I founded in 2000. Features include an online panel of psychologists and nutritionists, message board, info about EDs, hopeful articles, and resource listings. All content is biblically sound, but seeker friendly.
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www.somethingfishy.org has popular features such as a database of counselors, therapists and nutritionists searchable by city, state and/or zip, and online forums. A heart-breaking section called "In Loving Memory" memorializes those who have died from eating disorders, and could be a strong motivator for someone to get the help they need. Though not necessarily Christian, the content is positive and incredibly thorough.
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www.caringonline.com is a site founded by parents of a former disordered eater. It is now maintained by a Christian organization called "The Center" based out of
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Additional resource sites include www.edreferral.com, www.anred.com, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org and www.anad.org, with each of these having links to other helpful sites as well.
Bottom line
As a recovering disordered eater, I could write pages of commentary on what I found while researching pro-ed sites, but there simply isn't room to do so here. What I will say is this: even though these sites do provide a welcoming ‘community' for those seeking understanding of their issues, they do not offer peace, help or hope for healing. Instead, even the best intended are still places of darkness, hopelessness and despair.
The fact is, there is a very powerful enemy living and breathing at these sites. He is present in the images, the words and the design. He is the one sparking the angry, frustrated and offensive writings posted on message boards and in chat rooms. And he is the one doling out enough rope to hang oneself to those who so desperately need something to cling to.
The Internet is not something we can avoid or ignore, and while several pro-ed sites have been successfully shut down, many more will continue to pop up in their place. With this in mind, we must take bold steps to help those who are lost find the love, support and help that they need. And to do this we must be aware of what kind of enemy we are fighting. Hopefully the information shared in this article will help you do just that.
Constance Rhodes is the author of Life Inside the ‘Thin' Cage, and a frequent speaker on the topics of disordered eating and body image. She can be reached via her Web site at www.findingbalance.com.
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Pro-anorexia quick facts Number of sites on the Web: 400 Date sites first appeared: 2000 Primary target audience: Teen females. Secondary audience: Teen males, younger girls, and college-aged women and men. Site hosts: Generally same as target audience—teen and college-aged females. Typical offerings: "Thinspiration" (quotes and pics), message boards, ‘tips and tricks', ‘Letter from Ana/Mia', dietary information, creeds/codes/rules, poetry/lyrics/art, FAQs, links to other pro-ed sites. |
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