Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia Websites Be

¶ … PRO-ANA and PRO-MIA WEBSITES BE REGULATED, BANNED, or LEFT ALONE?

The objective of this work is to examine whether Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia websites should be regulated, banned, or left alone?

Eating disorders are common among today's youth and estimates state that approximately "...5% of women and 1% of men are affected by anorexia nervosa or bulimia." (Iannelli, 2003) Symptoms of these eating disorders include: (1) being underweight, losing weight or not gaining weight normally; (2) having an intense fear relating to weight gain; (3) a disturbed image of ones body; (4) in females who are having regular period, having amenorrhea, or the absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles; (5) induced vomiting in order to prevent weight gain, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise; and (6) refusal to eat and constant and ongoing dieting. There are other symptoms that are harder to detect among young people.

UNDERSTANDING PRO-ANA & PRO-MIA WEBSITES

The work of Chisholm and Fenaughty entitled: "Pro-Ana (Pro-Anorexia), Pro-Mia (Pro-Bulimia) and the Internet" state that the ten commandments from a pro-ana website are stated to be those as follows: (1) if you aren't thin you aren't attractive; (2) Being thin is more important than being healthy; (3) You must buy clothes, cut your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make yourself look thinner; (4) Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty; (5) Thou shall not eat fattening foods without punishing oneself afterwards; (6) Thou shall count calories and restrict intake accordingly; (7) What the scale says is the most important thing; (8) Losing weight is good/gaining weight is bad; and (9) You can never be too thin. (Chisholm and Fenaughty, nd) the Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia websites are reported to support messages such as: "Nothing Tastes as Good as Thin Feels" and supported as well is the practice in teaching "one another how to play the dangerous game, and how to figure out the minimum number of calories you need each day to stay alive. According to experts these social networks provide a sense of belonging" and somewhere they can discuss their problem where it is understood and accepted.

II. DANGEROUS DISORDERS - ADDICTIVE DISORDERS

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are dangerous disorders that are in actuality an addiction. The work of Pascoe entitled: "You're Just Another Fatty: Creating a Pro-Ana Subculture Online" published in Berkeley University's Digital Youth Journal January 22, 2008 relates: "The national spotlight for the last decade has shone brightly on obesity and its presumed causes and effects. However, research out of both Britain and Australia indicate that anorexia and bulimia are on the rise. Whether or not these sites encourage young women to have eating disorders is debatable, what they do provide is a window in to a non-clinical population of people with eating disorders. These disorders have historically been experienced and treated as individual psychological and medical disorders. Women suffering from them usually came into contact with one another only in institutional settings. But with the rise of new media technologies and modes of communication, digital communities have provided new possibilities for connections between once isolated individuals. Thus these sites provide a glimpse into the meaning making practices of non-clinical populations." (2008) Indeed what these sites actually provide is a type of framework that might be utilized in the development of treatment options across the population. Pascoe states that already participants in this "online subculture...often rework characterizations of anorexia as a disease by engaging in complex discussions of anorexia as a lifestyle choice in addition to or instead of a medical and psychological disorder. In crafting a complex community with unique symbols, rituals and identities these women provide a fuller picture of eating disorders and people who live with them, voluntarily or not." (2008)

SUMMARY