Study Uncovers Prevalence of Pro-Eating Disorders Websites

For millions of Americans, eating disorders have caused havoc, despair, pain, and loss. Family members of an anorexic or bulimic person understand the anguish and desperation involved when struggling to intervene and treat a loved one who has become entrapped by this serious mental illness. Although eating disorder sufferers are more difficult to intervene with than individuals with more common mental disorders, recovery is possible with long-term physical and psychiatric treatment, backed by dedication and family support.

While the Internet provides an array of support groups, resources, social networking sites, and chat rooms where individuals affected by eating disorders can find helpful advice and confidence when coping with their disease, a new study has made a shocking discovery. According to researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 180 “pro-anorexia” or “pro-bulimia” websites, also known as "pro-ana" or "pro-mia," are currently up and running on the Internet, encouraging their visitors to continue their eating disorder behavior by offering tips, support, and graphic images and prose advocating anorexia or bulimia. Their study was published in the August print issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Alarmed by the message these websites may portray to vulnerable girls and boys, lead researcher Dina Borzekowski, EdD, and her colleagues conducted a study on the existing pro-eating disorder websites, what they call “e-ana” and “e-mia” sites. The researchers evaluated the 180 active websites’ content regarding themes, “thinspiration” material (both images and prose designed to inspire weight loss), logistics, "tips and tricks" to staying thin, accessories, recovery support, and perceived harm. Most of the visitors to these sites were adolescent females, of who make up more than 90% of Americans affected by anorexia, and 85% affected by bulimia.

From their study, researchers found that 84% of the websites contained pro-anorexia content and 64% contained pro-bulimia content. Eighty-five percent of the websites contained “Thinspiration” material, and 83% offered blatant advice and support for engaging in eating disorder behavior. These websites—91% of which were open to the public, and 79% containing interactive features—were found to be overtly advocating their visitors to embrace this risky behavior, as if anorexia and bulimia are an elitist skill. Some websites encouraged visitors to socialize through their sites in order to make ‘ana-buddies’ who support each other’s weight loss endeavors.

Psychologists and pediatric clinicians have become concerned regarding the gravity of these sites’ influence since stigma is a major barrier preventing individuals with eating disorders to seek help. Some feel shame, guilt, anxiety, depression, and isolation due to their illness, and yet most do not understand that they are suffering from a mental disorder. Additionally, eating disorders are commonly accompanied by comorbid conditions. These deadly pro-eating disorder sites are grossly negative social platforms, offering solidarity, success, and control in one’s anorexic or bulimic lifestyle.

Most eating disorders begin during adolescence, the age group that is also most involved in social networking and other Internet use, but anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can also begin during childhood or adulthood. The onset of the illness may go unnoticed as the individual makes slight changes to their eating habits—such as eating smaller portions or being choosy with selected foods—or their behavior has been done in secret. Gradually, the illness may become more apparent as the affected individual upholds obsessive rituals such as avoiding mealtimes, counting calories, measuring or weighing, excessive exercise or dieting, or binging/purging.

An anorexic or bulimic person can appear severely underweight and unhealthy, yet the individual still firmly believes that they must lose more weight or demonstrate a fear of ‘fatness.’ Not only do eating disorders pose serious risk to one’s health, such as lower blood pressure, decreased heart rate, heart failure, kidney failure, but it can often result in death. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate than any other mental illness. According to the study, only 38% of the sites offered recovery information or links, indicating that even some ‘pro-ana’ and ‘pro-mia’ advocates are aware that eating disorders are dangerous mental illnesses that can result in fatal outcomes.

The researchers of the study recommend that these websites should be monitored and that parents should take effective measures to guard their children’s Internet usage in order to protect their safety and health. On August 23, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) launched a petition to have pro-eating disorder websites banned. The petition can be viewed at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/5/legislation-to-ban-pro-ana-pro-mia-websites/.

Source: ABC News, Lauren Cox, Pro-Anorexia Websites Send Convoluted and Deadly Messages, Study Finds, June 17, 2010

Tags: Anorexia, Bulimia, Eating Disorders