Pro Anorexia: Media and Body Image

Anorexia is a dangerous and sometimes deadly illness. It can damage virtually every organ, retard growth, make a person’s hair fall out, and cause kidney failure and osteoporosis.

Yet many people, especially young girls, are aspiring to develop this deadly illness.

In recent years, pro anorexia, or “pro ana,” Web sites have proliferated. Impressionable young people, seeking to be part of a special group, are joining pro anorexia online groups at an alarming rate. The growth of social media has made it easy for anyone to create a Web page or blog – and these sites are easy to find with a simple Web search.

Pro Anorexia And Thinspiration

Pro anorexia sites typically feature photos of extremely thin people. While most people would find such photos to be grotesque, those who are “pro anorexia” typically aspire to look the same way. They call it “thinspiration.”

Many pro anorexia sites require members to submit such photos to be part of their community. Members then aspire to be just like their models of thinspiration.

Pro Anorexia Media and Body Image

Why would anyone try to look that way? Because our media and our culture glorify thinness.

Ads and TV shows feature ultra-thin models and actresses. One study found that the average height and weight for a model is 5'10" and 110 lbs., while the average height and weight for a woman is 5'4" and 145 lbs. Considering that the average person sees approximately 3,000 ads and commercials daily, it’s no wonder that media has created a distorted ideal body image.

Media and body image typically have an impact beginning at a very young age. As exposure to the body image presented by media has increased, more and more very young people have developed anorexia and other eating disorders.

As a result of this constant exposure to thinness, many people have a negative body image. Body image is how people perceive their physical appearance. Those who have a poor body image perceive their body as being unattractive or even repulsive to others, while those with a good body image will see themselves as attractive to others, or will at least accept their body in its current form.

Even people who are an ideal weight sometimes have a negative body image. And many think that if they become thinner, they will improve their body image.

Members of pro anorexia online communities reinforce each other’s beliefs and make it seem normal to be pro anorexia. They write poetry about losing weight, compete with each other to become thinner and thinner, and become increasingly obsessed with losing weight.

What To Do About Pro Anorexia Web Sites And The Media’s Portrayal Of The Ideal Body Image

Is your child visiting a pro anorexia Web site? If so, what can you do about it?

You can help minimize the impact of media and pro anorexia Web sites, and have your children develop a healthy body image by:

• Talking to them about the health risks of being thin.
• Tracking your child’s Internet use and blocking pro anorexia Web sites.
• Explaining how media images are altered and that the body image shown is not real.
• Reading up on anorexia and other eating disorders, and understanding the symptoms.
• Limiting your children’s exposure to the body image portrayed by the media.
• Discussing what a healthy, positive body image is.

While media and body image issues are pervasive, with your help, your children should learn to cope with them. If your child has been visiting pro anorexia Web sites, or if think you or your child has a body image problem that has led to an eating disorder, contact Walden Behavioral Care today at 781-647-6700.