By
Christopher Theberge
Anorexia nervosa is a complex eating disorder that is
characterized by a poor self-image, which ultimately leads to self-starvation
and extreme weight-loss.
About one
percent of all adolescent females have anorexia, while only 10 percent of total
anorexia cases are men. The reason why females are more susceptible to anorexia
probably stems from the demands that society places on young women to be thin.
A new trend among young adults has been sweeping the nation: pro-anorexia
websites. Also known as pro-ana, these sites glorify
anorexia nervosa and offer "thinspiration"
on maintaining a starvation lifestyle. All pro-anorexia websites have one thing
in common - they promote anorexia nervosa.
Pro-ana websites suggest that one follow the "Ana"
way of life. Ana promotes thinness and considers overweight people as ugly and
inferior. They suggest that one obsess about calories and avoidance of food.
Food is considered the ultimate enemy.
A signature item
that most pro-Ana sites seem to have is a list of rules of commandments. An
excerpt from a site I visited: [Being thin is the most important thing in life;
Thin is beautiful and good / obese is ugly and bad; You
must feel very guilty every time you eat]. Sites also offer a variety of tips
and excuses that will help anorexics to hide their problem or aid the
starvation process. A few tips and excuses I found: Take diet pills; No thanks,
I ate a huge breakfast (or lunch); If your family suspects you have an eating
problem, leave plates and half full glasses around the house so it looks like
you ate. Safe food lists are also available on these sites. According to pro-ana, safe foods consist of mostly leafy greens and
vegetables with a lot of water content, particularly lettuce and cucumbers.
Water is promoted as a weight-loss enhancer and satiety agent. Individuals are
encouraged to keep a journal to track their calorie intake, weight-loss and
feelings. An array of pictures are used as motivators,
usually supermodels and thin celebrities such as Calista
Flockhart ("Ally McBeal").
Although
web-hosting companies have attempted to eliminate these websites, they are
still readily accessible. An increase in the "underground network"
has allowed individuals to gain access to these sites. The underground network
is the same thing that pedophiles use to access child pornography. Users just
e-mail one another and once they reach an agreement, they are given the URL for
the site that is privately hosted. This has resulted in an ever-increasing
challenge for Internet surveillance agencies to monitor content on the web.
Treating
anorexia nervosa requires a team of professionals consisting of physicians,
psychologists, nutritionists and family and friends. Most individuals resist
treatment at first because they feel that weight-loss will improve their
self-image and once they achieve that "ideal," they will stop. The
problem with this is that the "ideal" may never be achieved, and
hence, the anorexia will continue. Only about half of all treated patients
report successful therapy.
Some common
signs of anorexia are finding excuses for not eating, becoming obsessed with
the mirror, excessive and compulsive exercising, loss of menstrual cycle in
women, fear of gaining weight and deliberate self-starvation.
Anorexia may
lead to malnutrition, dehydration, serious damage to the heart, liver and
kidneys and ultimately death. A poor self-image, perfectionism, "all or
nothing" attitude, and altered social relationships are also related to
those suffering from anorexia.
If you suspect
that someone may have anorexia or any other eating disorder, call the National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Helpline at: 1-800-950-NAMI. Don't wait
until it's too late. Be Healthy!
Copyright © 2005 , www.nafwa.org , All Rights Reserved