The Dangers of Pro-Anorexic Web Sites

"A lot of people in the guestbook ask me and other pro-rexies if they realize that they can die from anorexia. I don't know about anyone else, but I do in fact realize that. In fact, I don't really care. If I died tomorrow, so be it. My life doesn't really mean that much to me, so if you want to tell me that I'm stupid because I don't realize that I could possibly die from anorexia, that's just fine with me." - Anonymous (Taken from one pro-anorexic web site)

Introduction

We all know the internet has been a useful tool in learning new information. The web has become the essence of our freedom of speech. But what do we do when information posted to the web is encouraging deadly behavior, like anorexia and bulimia? Pro-anorexic websites have been a popular epidemic in our society. There are literally hundreds of pro-anorexic sites today. This essay will discuss: the nature of these sites, the damage they are causing to women and what is being done to prevent these harmful sites from appearing on the web.

The first site I opened was Pro-Anorexia . When I opened the page, my mouth dropped to the floor and I began to cry. I am a recovering anorexic and will be celebrating eight years of recovery on May 16, 2003. I can honestly say that had sites been around like this when I was actively practicing the disease, I don't know if I would still be alive today.

What's Happening on These Sites

Pro-anorexic sites enter intimately into the minds of diseased young girls, girls who may be willing to do anything to gain control over their lives. In a society where the message received from the media is that thin is beautiful, these sites offer the answers to a young girl's prayers. Unfortunately, she doesn't always realize that anorexia is a deadly disease. Sites like these can make anorexia seem tempting and acceptable.

The site that I viewed had a clause on the home page. It reads like this:

"I know you've heard this before but before you start this, I want you to make absolutely sure you want this. You WANT to have no social life because not only do friends ask too many questions but all stuff teenagers do these days involves food. You WANT to be hungry all the time. You WANT to feel guilty because you ate a piece of toast. You WANT to lose your hair, get weak fingernails, feel faint and dizzy ALL the time, you want to be in generally in bad health" (myweb.ecomplanet.com 1).

The site seems like they are offering you a warning, however, the topics, links, and pictures they offer will far outweigh the opening warning clause, especially to a girl who is desperate to starve.

The web site, as I mentioned, has dozens of topics, including: safe foods, FAQ, tips and tricks, fasting, exercise tips, links to other pro-anorexic sites, and pictures of very thin women. Surprisingly, one site offered the option of either looking at a pro-anorexic portion of the web site versus the recovery section of the web site.

An example for one of the links is "safe foods". Safe foods for anorexics are foods that won't make you feel fat after you eat them. These foods include, diet soda, rice cakes, raw cauliflower, soy turkey, Boca patties, and the list goes on. As well, each food contains the nutritional value of the foods, including: the calories, fat grams, protein, and carbohydrates.

The site may offer catchy phrases to keep you motivated to starve. In one such case, this site offered something like this:

The Thin Commandments

If you are not thin you are not attractive.

Being thin is more important than being healthy.

You must buy clothes, cut your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make yourself look thinner.

Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty.

Thou shall not eat fattening foods without punishing oneself afterwards.

Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly.

What the scale says is the most important thing

Losing weight is good/ Gaining weight is bad

You can never be too thin.

" Being thin and not eating are true signs of will power and success.

Many people visit these sites, but young women are most drawn to them. Anorexia is a secret disease. People sneak food, they vomit behind closed doors, exercise compulsively when no one is home or during late hours, and they are in pain. Both emotional and physical pain keeps them hidden in their disease and many of these women turn to the web for encouragement and support.

Being anorexic is a lonely place to be. It is an isolating disease even without the advent of the internet. But with the internet in place, pro-anorexic web sites are at the disposal of these young women, they only help to isolate them even more. Anorexics become obsessed with losing weight, so obsessed they give up their entire lives. These web sites encourage this behavior, making anorexia more deadly than ever.

There is Hope

In searching for these sites it has become increasingly more difficult to find pro-anorexic sites. Where it used to be a (pardon the pun) "piece of cake" to find such sites, today's search engines like "Yahoo!" are no longer allowing such web sites on their server. It is difficult to say what contributed to "Yahoo's!" removal of such sites, however, a spokesperson for the company said this regarding pro-anorexic sites, "Content with the sole purpose of creating harm or inciting hate is brought to our attention, we evaluate it, and in extreme cases, remove it, as that is a violation of our terms of service" (Reaves 1).

In my journey through this project it was difficult in the beginning to find pro-anorexic sites, however, it became easier the more I searched. For example, the first site I found was an article from "Time" magazine, reporting the effects of pro-anorexic sites. In this article they had links for supportive (i.e. recovering) anorexic sites and pro-anorexic sites. I am happy to report that I was unable to access the majority of the pro-anorexic sites, due to the search engines removing them from their server. Unfortunately, there are still enough sites out there that help perpetuate the disease.

Associations like, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, or ANAD are helping to fight the battle of pro-anorexic sites. They have studied these sites carefully and offer interesting insight to the sites, but most importantly they see the harm these sites are causing for young women. The president of ANAD is taking a pro-active approach by writing letters to companies like "Yahoo!", in an effort to have these sites removed from the net.

Conclusion

This project was very painful as I had to re-visit the past, but at the same time it was very healing. I never realized the impact that technology has on us everyday. It virtually affects every aspect of our lives, even our deepest and darkest secrets. While pro-anorexic sites help perpetuate the deadly disease of anorexia, there is also help. Technology is advancing quicker than we can keep up with, but at least people are fighting against these sights sooner than later. The other wonderful news is that for as many pro-anorexic sites as there are on the net, there are equally as many sites that offer recovery and hope.

Sources

CAUTION: Pro-Anorexic Web Page

Anorexic Web

Boxing Ana