“You think to yourself…my life sucks. And you are right. That life does suck. You're tired of the abuse, the horror, the pain, the starvation, the worrying that you'll die, the comments from others saying, "eat more! You have to eat more!" The message replies to yours are kind, sweet, caring...sometimes congratulatory. They're just the opposite of the eating disorder inside your head, and the constant negativity from those around you who don't understand or are too angry or afraid for you to try to understand.”
But this community of pro-ana’s is under threat. A group of parent’s have recently launched a petition to curb the influx of these pro eating disorder websites. Fearing for their children’s sponge-like minds, they are calling for a complete ban of any pro-ana or pro-mia websites and so far have received almost 300 signatures. Aware that they may not be able to get a full ban imposed the parents are calling for stricter security measures on the sites, so that only 18-year-olds and above can visit.
However, the petition is the tip of the iceberg. Across the Atlantic our American cousins have already discussed pro-ana on chat shows, across different forums and many internet users have set up their own take on pro eating disorder websites, encouraging browsers that people who log onto the sites are ‘sick’ and
suggesting that they can only be saved by a complete ban. |
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This take has been answered by a huge backlash; one petition to allow pro-anorexia websites has gathered over 10,000 signatures –a worrying insight to the amount of people who believe supporting websites which proclaim to be ‘pro’ of such a physiologically crippling disease, pro a disease which effectively steals away lives.
Naturally Joni and her friends are distraught. Connected only by this illness –not by age, race, culture, education or even postcode, they will no longer be able to ‘support’ each other if a An age limit is not good enough for these pro-ana freedom fighters, they think influential youngsters who are battling eating disorders -statistics suggest out of every 100 girls in a secondary school two will be battling with an eating disorder of some kind- need their support. Support which consists largely of swapping poetry about starving themselves and congratulating each other on their 400-calorie-a-day diets.
One pro-ana supporter fumes: “Banning these sites is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. It is our choice to live the way we live and many of these sites warn you not to look at them if you are in recovery or do NOT have an ed [eating disorder]. People that believe that these sites should be banned are close minded.”
Joni knows that if she doesn’t get the support she needs from her friends online, she will break down in the line of questioning from family and friends, who already concerned by her 7-stone frame, think, among other things, that she is dabbling in drugs.
This could be viewed as a positive move. If Joni is left without the haven of pro-ana friends made online, she may decide to confide in someone, who could hopefully encourage her to get some help.
But people who use the sites say that the forums are merely an extension of a network, which is built in hospitals around the country. One user said the concept of pro-ana is not a recent idea, rather it was born in hospitals where people are sent to, ironically to recover from their eating disorders.
Speaking confidentially she said: “To ban the sites would effectively leave a lot of people without this support, but it is support which is built on swapping tips and congratulating each other on weight loss. “At least when you are in hospitals and carrying out whispered conversations you know its not normal. Online all you have is screwed up people feeding off each other.”
And it is online that the subject continues to rage. As for Joni, she steps off the bus, catches a glimpse of her reflection and grimaces, as she does every morning, and heads to work, planning to eat nothing all day
