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Author:
Deborah Wilson

Given all the education and warnings on the subject, it's surprising that so many women still suffer from anorexia nervosa, a disorder that leads people to starve themselves. If left unchecked, anorexia can lead to serious longterm health consequences and can even be fatal.

Knowing all of this, why do so many young women succumb to this dreaded disease? Has the Internet played a role in fanning the fires of what its sufferers often affectionately refer to as "ana"? Young women are gathering on what are called pro ana or pro anorexia websites. These sites feature message boards where women can bond and share tips on how to lose weight. Whereas anorexia often used to be a lonely and secretive part of a woman's life, now it has become a way for women to bond, a club anyone can join as long as they desire to be thin.

In addition to message boards and chat areas, these sites also feature "thinspiration" photos, usually photographs of extremely thin models and actresses. The Internet makes it easier to collect these photos and post them so they can be shared and admired.

In combination with the Internet, the obsession with celebrity in recent years has caused the pro ana movement to explode. Tabloid reports about young actresses who seem to be wasting away to nothing sell a lot of copies. The popularity of gossip websites has also exploded. On sites such as Awful Plastic Surgery and PerezHilton.com, people talk obsessively about celebrity, including how thin certain actresses seem to be getting.

Most of us can't figure out why our fellow humans would willingly starve themselves since throughout our evolution, we have always tried to avoid famine and starvation. In a society that has an obesity problem, in which every plate of food is supersized, the idea of anorexia is both unthinkable and morbidly fascinating.

Perhaps anorexia will always exist. It is not a modern problem, after all. It's just that modern technology seems to be making it easier to become seduced by the fantasy of bodily perfection. Hopefully, the same technology that allows women across the world to bond over starvation will eventually help save them.

Websites that promote recovery are popping up just as fast as sites that promote anorexia. The message is getting through to many young women. The more people who share their stories of recovery rather than stories of starvation, the more positive voices there will be on the Internet for the next generation of women.

Recovery Resources:

Health Diaries features a section on diaries by women who are recovering from anorexia.

A Healthy Place features anorexia information and resources, including treatment information and news.

About the Author
Deborah Wilson is a freelance writer specializing in health and wellness.

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Eating Disorders... The Battle of Bulimia Copyright 2006 Anne Wolski In a world where a person's worth tends to be measured by appearance, it is little wonder that we have so many young women falling into the trap of eating disorders. This obsession with achieving the perfect figure has led to one of the most dangerous and life-threatening epidemics of our time. Bulimia is but one of a growing number of eating disorders recognized in our modern society. It is a serious disorder characterized by binge eating followed by forced vomiting or by purging using laxatives. People with bulimia go through this ritual in order to avoid the weight gain which would normally accompany an eating binge. Why people get this condition is largely unknown and prone to speculation though it is commonly believed that family and social pressure, as well as unrealistic portrayals of perfect body image in the media, play a significant role. The person is also likely to have intense psychological problems. Unlike people with anorexia, sufferers of bulimia are not as obvious as they normally remain within about twenty percent of their normal weight range. This makes it difficult for a doctor to diagnose. A person with anorexia has the obvious signs of emaciation but with a bulimia sufferer, it is really necessary to observe the binge eating. Because binge eating is usually carried out secretively, this can create a problem in reaching an early diagnosis. The person is likely to come from a middle-class or upper-class family who are very controlling and put great importance on achievement. The person is often led to believe that diet and figure are of extreme importance. Thus, the person with bulimia, already suffering from a distorted body image, loses their self-esteem. Because...