It used to be that pro-ana groups, made up of mostly girls who advocate anorexia, hid in the darkest corners of the Web. Not anymore. Newsweek recently reported that these eating disorder devotees have popped up on Facebook for all-you know, like your impressionable kid sis, niece or daughter-to see.
The argument for (yup, there is one) having these sites on such well-known online networks is that they a) give these sick individuals a support system and b) get eating disorders out in the open so that their sufferers can actually admit they have them. We wonder, though, how positive it can be to read statements such as "i've had 200 cals today and im just trying to calm down before i go for dinner," and see photos like this.
While there's been no link showing the pro-ana sites have actually caused the nearly 7 million cases of eating disorders in the U.S., their opponents say simply looking at them can further fuel unhealthy behavior. Stanford professor Rebecka Peebles, M.D., coauthored a 2006 study that found 96 percent of teens diagnosed with eating disorders who visited pro-eating disorder Web sites learned new ways to diet. The sites can also give young women a sense that being anorexic or bulimic is okay since they are surrounded by like-minded people.
A recent Lemondrop search found about a dozen pro-ana groups on Facebook.
Fortunately, there are more anti-pro-ana groups on there, like the 1,467-member "stop pro-ana," started by a recovering anorexic. Equally impressive is the fact that the group's admins hail from various countries, showing that there's a global effort to stop these sites. There's been equal infiltration on both ends of the debate, with pro-ana members posting on the anti-ana sites and vice versa, like in the thread "Who are you to judge us?" on "stop pro-ana."
Are these groups allowed based on freedom of speech? No, according to Facebook's terms of service, which ban content that promotes self-harm or harm to others. A company spokesman told Newsweek Facebook employees search out and delete not only pro-ana groups, but those promoting bigotry and other unsavory practices.
Tell us: Should pro-ana sites be allowed on Facebook and other social networking sites?
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Tuesday 09 December
By Hallie
Pro-ana and pro-eating disorder sites are extremely detrimental to the health of thousands of people throughout the world. As a somewhat recovering anorexic, I am completely against pro-ana groups on social networking sites like Facebook. Every time that I come across one, I just shake my head and hope that the people in these groups soon realize that eating disorders are not glamourous. They are deadly. I have nearly died twice and know a handful of friends that have died from their eating disorders. Promoting eating disorders as a lifestyle and a safe diet is creating a society of body conscious adolescent. I hope that sites like Facebook will continue to stop these groups, even if you can't get rid of every group, getting rid of a few is a step in the right direction.
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Tuesday 09 December
By omgfatties
the girl in that photo is not anorexic. im tired of all you fat women assuming that just because you cant lose weight regardless of what you do, you categorize all skinny women as having to be anorexic. and you, for some reason find it more than ok to tell sombody that they are too skinny tell them they should eat somthing and insult them by calling them anorexic. it hurts our feelings just as much as if sombody looks at you stares at your stomach and says, "you are way too fat, have you been eating all day? you are going to die from heart disease if you dont lose weight,." stop telling girls they are too skinny. it is NOT ok. unless you are a doctor or a specialist you have no idea what you are talking about. so SHUT UP!!!
Thank you.
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