The Harmful Emergence of Pro-Bulimia Attitudes
by Thomas Morva
zone3
Pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia groups reside on the Internet. Web
sites and message boards run by mostly teenage girls are devoted to “Ana,”
short for “anorexia,” and “Mia,” short for “bulimia.” Many of these
Web sites use nutritional information to plan diets like, for example, how
to eat the needed requirements of vitamins and minerals in the fewest of
calories.
Though bulimia is classified as an eating disorder, not everyone with
bulimia feels like they have a disorder. Some view bulimia and anorexia as
lifestyles—chosen lifestyles.
People with bulimia and anorexia are terrified or shamed by the thought
of getting fat or even eating. They have an unhealthy body image and feel
that, no matter how they actually look, they are overweight. People with
bulimia may binge on food, but then they either vomit after meals, abuse
laxatives, or exercise excessively. People with anorexia starve
themselves. Ninety percent of eating disorders are in women, many in their
teens.
Pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia groups reside on the Internet. Web sites
and message boards run by mostly teenage girls are devoted to “Ana,” short
for “anorexia,” and “Mia,” short for “bulimia.” Many of these Web
sites use nutritional information to plan diets like, for example, how to
eat the needed requirements of vitamins and minerals in the fewest of
calories. Other sections teach the reader how to eat the fewest calories
in a day, how to hide anorexia or bulimia from other people, and other
information to, essentially, make having an eating disorder more
efficient.
To the people who are pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia, eating disorders
are a choice. Many Web sites include pages dedicated to “thinsperation,”
quotes, art, and pictures of skinny or obese people to encourage readers
to lose weight. The Web sites are support groups to the people who use
them.
Many people, however, find the pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia pages
disturbing. Eating disorder treatment professionals have debated how to
best handle the people who view their eating disorder as a lifestyle. Some
have argued that these Web sites should be shut down, but others say this
will not fix the problem, and that women have been talking about weight
with each other for ages.
The best solution to these Web sites, many professionals say, is to try
to change the culture that creates women who feel too fat. Young women—and
men—should be praised for their accomplishments, not their appearance.
Healthy appetites and body images should be encouraged, and teenagers
should receive love and support from the adults close to them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bulimia provides detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and
effects of bulimia; bulimia treatment and recovery; the relationship
between anorexia and bulimia; and information about the “pro bulimia”
viewpoint. For more information go to http://www.e-bulimia.com/ and/or
visit our affiliate site at http://www.original-content.net/.
Bulimia; Original Content.
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