Beyond the Pro-Ana/Mia Culture
“At a certain weight, which is different for everyone, you will lose your period. This is a good thing because it means that you’re losing weight.”
“Getting a pedicure is a good way to distract from eating AND to make yourself feel prettier.”
These quotes, heartbreaking on a number of levels, come directly from a website I was just browsing to research this post on Pro-Ana/Mia websites (“ana” is jargon for anorexia nervosa and “mia” for bulimia nervosa). Despite being very familiar with these sites from working in the field, I never cease to be amazed, and horrified, by the information being promoted. Examining these sites, my heart breaks for their authors, for their readers and members, and for the families of those suffering.
If you’re not already familiar with Pro-Ana/Mia websites (which, in most cases, is a very good thing), I’ll offer a brief description. These sites serve as a forum for the advocacy of eating disorders as a lifestyle choice as opposed to a serious and deadly mental illness. While admittedly these sites differ in their philosophy and approach, most offer support not for the individuals who are engaged in eating disordered behaviors, but for the eating disorder itself. They provide eating disorder tips, tricks for hiding the disorder, “thinspiration” (e.g. photographs of very thin celebrities), chat rooms, message boards for posting latest weights, and a multitude of other resources for those who are not ready for recovery. Some even include contests and a subscription for a daily e-mail to remind the user “just how good being thin feels.” (Please note that I am avoiding detailed descriptions or including URLs so as not to promote these sites.)
The Pro-Ana Food Pyramid, as seen on a popular website.
Think that just the very troubled teeny boppers frequent these sites? Think again. A recent survey (Custers & Van den Bulck, 2009) revealed that 12.6% of girls and 5.9% of boys reported having visited these sites at some point. While many young people may visit out of relatively benign curiosity, even a single viewing can be dangerous, according to researchers. In a well-designed experiment, Wilson and Cass (2007) found that participants who viewed a pro-ana website just once developed lowered self-esteem and an increased preoccupation with weight loss. Among those with eating disorders, the rates of reported viewing are expectedly higher. And, once again, their visits can be dangerous. Over 96% of these individuals indicated that they learned new weight loss and purging methods through these sites (Wilson, Peebles, Hardy, & Litt, 2006).
New research, however, indicates that it’s not the latest purging technique that draws visitors to these sites, but rather the allure of social support. Possibly as both a cause of and a result of their disorders, individuals with eating problems tend to feel segregated from the others, stuck in their own personal dungeons. An eating disorder can be a very lonely place, and thus some individuals use the internet to alleviate the potentially crushing feeling of isolation. Pro-Ana/Mia sites, while full of potentially dangerous ideas, offer their users the holy grail of womanhood… acceptance.
Understanding this need for acceptance and support, Michael Levine, PhD, a professor and author (and, for the sake of full disclosure, one of my personal idols), along with a student, Kelsey Chapman, developed an answer to Pro-Ana/Mia sites. Their site, Beyond Ana and Mia, aims to provide a support network for individuals who may or may not be ready for recovery, but does so in a safer and healthier manner. Their site offers users a section for creative expression, information about eating disorders and recovery, and a moderated forum (meaning no diet tips or “thinspiration” permitted).
The beauty of Beyond Ana and Mia and similar efforts is that, instead of simply dismissing or chastising the more dangerous websites, they have used research to identify what the real purpose of these sites are – to offer the human connection that all of us, even those with eating disorders, desire. They are then able to offer that same service in a way that supports not the disorder, but the person. This speaks to the importance of research and a thoughtful exploration of the issues. And to that I say, Bravo.
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Robyn
641 days ago
Ashley
Pro ED type web sites, what a very very sad thing. I just think about the administrators of these sites and how under Ed’s control they must be to not only hurt themselves, but others; especially when they are reaching out to youth that are highly impressionable.
I will keep these people in my prayers. I hope that one day they will be able to acknowledge their personal issues and hopefully choose recovery.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
641 days ago
Well said, Robyn.
Tina
641 days ago
I have come across these sites before and they always sadden me so. I wish there was a way to reach through and give each of the women (and sometimes men) posting a huge hug.
Kelley Neu
641 days ago
I never even realized that these types of sites were available! I am in total shock and dismay that such information is being made available to people who are suffering from a life threatening disorder. What a sad statement about the power that eating disorders have over an individual. That God for people like Dr. Levine who are actively trying to combat the damage these sites can do.
Angela Minard
641 days ago
At the height of my anorexia, I frequented these sites, and they fueled my disorder. I was seriously addicted to these sites, and it makes me sad thinking about that time in my life. even though I’m struggling with a relapse, I have no desire to go back. Thanks for posting Dr. Levine’s site. I will definitely be stopping by, as I’m needing extra support right now.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
641 days ago
Happy to be able to lead you to a good resource in the midst of your struggle. Check out the Resources page for a few more.
Jayna @ Healthy Living Bites
641 days ago
Wow, this is a part of the web I’d heard rumors of but have never seen before. Thinking of the pain I know these people are going through and the loneliness they must be feeling reminds me of my work as an addictions counselor. I applaud Dr. Levine’s site, and hope it becomes a great place of connection for people who need more support and crave some sort of interaction. Knowing what I know of addiction, and eating disorders resemble addiction in so many respects, I fear it won’t reach out to those not ready for treatment yet. I don’t know that anyone CAN make something that will reach out to those yet because they will be looking for information that supports their current lifestyle. I only hope that those looking for different support bring this new forum to light for everyone as that will have the biggest impact- support from within the “circle”.
Such a hard topic, such a sad thing to think about. I guess it’s like anything else though, for lasting change to occur the motivation has to come from within.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
640 days ago
Addicitons and EDs definitely resemble one another in their processes and the ways in which they are often forms of experiential avoidance. It is incredibly difficult to design programs and interventions for those who are not a more action-oriented stage of change, but I think we’re getting better at recognizing where people ARE at, which is a good step. Thanks for your comment!
Kristan
640 days ago
Heartbreaking indeed… Sigh. As a teen, I used to be a member of a blog that reviewed other blogs (don’t ask) and I eventually had to quit because SO many of the blogs that asked to be reviewed (i.e., judged) were from teenage girls who had EDs, or who cut themselves, or who had depression, or some combination thereof. It broke me down.
I think it’s great that there are people like you and Levine/Chapman who are standing up and battling these problems. If I were reviewing y’all’s sites, haha, I’m sure you’d get 5 out of 5 stars. :)
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
640 days ago
Haha, thanks Kristan!!!
Rita @ The Giggly Bits
640 days ago
How fantastic that there is someone with the expertise and forethought to put together a site that may actually help. I have never gone to any of those sites for the reasons you mentioned. But I can definitely appreciate the need to fit in and all that we do to be accepted. It just makes perfect, if not disheartening, sense. Thank you for sharing such a nice ray of hope in all this mess.
Lindsay @ The Ketchup Diaries
640 days ago
This is honestly just heart breaking. The “food pyramid” is just too much.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
640 days ago
I know, right? And there was so much more… but I didn’t want to include it for fear of being triggering.
Michelle
640 days ago
Sadly, when I was younger (thirteen, fourteen) I wanted to be thin so badly I used to read books about girls suffering from Anorexia. I stumbled across the pro-ana sites and spent hours a day on them. I am thankful that I never succumbed to starving myself (liking food a bit too much!) but it is so distressing that so many people frequent these sites. Our culture makes me so sad.
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
640 days ago
It’s so easy to get sucked into them. And reading books about others with EDs is another really common practice among people struggling. With the books it’s a hard balance between offering support and education and triggering people into unhealthy behaviors. Thanks for commenting!
Chase (TheChaseProject)
639 days ago
So, I’ve never had an ED and I’ve never seen these websites so naturally my curiosity was piqued. So I googled it and I think I came across the ones that you quoted. Anyway, what I was amazed by was how much it was masked as a support group type website. At every corner, there is someone telling you that it’s ok to starve yourself, it’s part of dealing with your disorder, that we’re all here for you and we support what you’re doing. It was almost scary how manipulative the verbiage was to make you feel like what you’re doing is normal and it’s everyone else around you that’s crazy. How sad.
TheHealthyApron
639 days ago
Wow, these stats are shocking. It drives the fact home that this society is so preoccupied with images that are so unrealistic to achieve, that everyone (girls/guys) feel inferior. I just hope and pray that sites like this can help others deal with their issues.
pizza recipe
596 days ago
Addicitons and EDs definitely resemble one another in their processes and the ways in which they are often forms of experiential avoidance. It is incredibly difficult to design programs and interventions for those who are not a more action-oriented stage of change, but I think we’re getting better at recognizing where people ARE at, which is a good step. Thanks for your comment!
Rudolf Yoneda
577 days ago
have been visiting your blog around 3 days. absolutely love what you posted. by the way i am doing study concerning this area. do you know any sites or forums where I can find out more? many thanks.
Kat
463 days ago
I must admit I used to be a member of a couple pro forums (and a moderator of one). Part of what causes them to thrive is the sense of community… and I also believe the lack of access to treatment (in the United States). I say this, because a lot of the members would discuss how they could not get help or receive help so they might as well just do it well and achieve what they wanted to, since they were going to struggle with it anyway.
I think we need to look at WHY these communities do thrive and go from there. Back in 2006, Sharon Hodgson, a live painter in Halfiax, Nova Scotia created a POST pro-ana forum, We Bite Back, that has become immensely successful as it operates under the same community based premise of pro-ana forums, but instead of focusing on how eating disorders can make you better, it focuses on how recovering can make you better.
Sharon actually wrote the foreword recently for the memoir, “Biting Anorexia” which was written by another member of her new forum that had followed her from pro forums. (Sharon was also a moderator of a pro-anorexia forum).
Numerous people have made their way through recovery on her new forum – (most with outside help), but I think partially due to the community based support that affirms recovery IS a better option… provides coping skills that have worked for them, etc.
Sorry I’m rambling.
Kat recently posted..867-5309!
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
462 days ago
Kat, thank you so much for this information. I wasn’t familiar with We Bite Back or “Biting Anorexia” (clever titles too!) and am so glad to learn about them. I think you’re absolutely right about the need for community support and if we can create creative ways to offer that (while also fighting legislatively for more funding, etc.), we’ll really be able to help those struggling.
Kat
462 days ago
On an aside question: are PsyD’s (I ask about that specifically as my therapist received a PsyD from Xavier in 2009) taught about Pro-Ana and Mia during their courses? A friend of mine and I were pondering this the other day, because it would be even harder a topic to broach if the therapist had not heard of it before, but seems like it would be an important thing to mention since it can impact you far past your days of activity on the forum (pictures of yourself floating about – still being used for thinspo or knowing that you contributed to girls furthering their disorder)… and I’m just curious in general.
Also, that brings another point of why those forums are so dangerous… the aftermath.
Kat recently posted..why people that care can scare
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul
459 days ago
That’s a really great question! You know, I think it depends heavily on the program – there is no specific place in the APA require curriculum for talking about pro-ana/mia, but programs with greater emphasis or tracks for eating disorders likely cover it. In my program at Xavier (so funny, I’m sure I know your therapist if he/she graduated then!), I don’t remember specifically covering them, but I learned a lot both working in the field on practica about this topic. I would say that as a client if you are involved in pro-ana/mia (or were) and are concerned your therapist might not know about it, they likely do OR it can be a good opportunity to educate them. If they work with EDs, my bet is they have at least a good working understanding. But as with any issue, the meaning and function is unique to the individual client, so it needs to be explored. Does that answer your question?
Kat
458 days ago
My therapist has mentioned she has a friend that blogs eating disorders… I wonder if you are that elusive friend of her’s? Hmmm… Small world if that’s the case, considering I rock it out in St. L (little hint to you).
Anyway, that does answer my question. I’ve wanted to bring it up with her before (as some of the things we discuss do go back to that history), but was unsure how to approach the topic in the event she had no idea about it.
Kat recently posted..be here now