Workshop Essay

Do you know Ana, Mia, or Ed? When you see these names on the Internet, they are usually referring to the underground lifestyles of people, mostly female, starving to be beautiful. Ana is Anorexia. Mia is Bulimia. Ed stands for eating disorder. Pro-Ana and Mia sites litter the Web with names like Ana World, The Anorexic Files, Fat Like Me, and Starving Beauty; the content is shocking and not for the squeamish. Pictures called "triggers" of super thin models, emaciated bodies, and of the girls themselves are posted in galleries. Anorexia, which is preferred over Bulimia by most, is promoted as "a lifestyle, not a disease." The sites provide a forum that promotes to normalize and encourage starving and vomiting in an effort to stay thin. To gain a pound is considered a sin; "thinspirational" awards are given to those who can lose the most weight. Tips are offered to help deceive parents and avoid having meals with family and friends; BMI (Body Mass Index) calculators are explained, and "safe foods" (e.g. celery, egg whites, black coffee) are listed. Message boards allow members to share and compare accomplishments further encouraging this cult-like mentality. The surprising part is that the supporters of the Pro-Ana movement are not in denial as you might think; they are advocates of the lifestyle and its acceptance by society. They claim not to be victims. They are not hiding but fighting for what they believe in. The scary part is that the visitor counters are exploding. The numbers rank in the thousands.

Yes, Freedom of Speech allows this to happen. Having and discussing an eating disorder is not illegal, but it is an issue of public safety. Where should the line be drawn? What if your daughter or sister was saying, "Ana is my best friend," or "I will be all bones and just beautiful?" Anyone can gain admission to the sites and acceptance into the community regardless of age or history. The fact is that eating disorders are deadly and potentially fatal. Something must be done to combat the increasing number of sites. Although the American Government made an attempt to restrict these sites, they were defeated by the ACLU and the Freedom of Speech argument. Some Internet companies including Yahoo! and Lycos have blocked Pro-Ana material, but the sites persist under pseudonyms and are still extensively available via other search engines and Web providers. It is up to the public and Internet users to push awareness and education to abolish this growing trend.