Pro-Anorexia

In 2001, Oprah Winfrey exposed the previously hidden underworld of pro-anorexia and Web sites dedicated to the perpetuation of eating disorders.

What is pro-anorexia?
Pro-anorexia, or "pro-ana", is the belief that eating disorders (specifically anorexia and bulimia) are lifestyle choices an individual makes to lose a significant amount of weight and maintain an unhealthy low weight. This belief is commonly held among eating disorder sufferers as a way to deny the seriousness of their illness. All psychological research indicates that eating disorders are, in fact, mental disorders and not lifestyle choices.

The appeal of pro-anorexia to eating disorder sufferers is that they are able to maintain the illusion that they are in control of their food and weight because they are choosing to restrict calories and/or purge their food. Acknowledging that they are actually suffering from a mental disorder implies that they are not truly in control, and that their weight loss isn't the result of their lifestyle choices regarding caloric intake and exercise.

Pro-anorexic Web sites
Pro-anorexic Web sites contain information and discussion forums on how to maintain an eating disorder. "Tips" are provided on various topics such as how much to eat, when to eat, what to eat, how to induce vomiting, and how to keep these extreme behaviors a secret from friends and family. These sites are maintained by eating disorder sufferers who consider themselves to be "pro-anorexic". The sites are designed for the purpose of "helping" others like them and forming a supportive community to discuss their disordered thoughts and behaviors because they cannot do so with their friends and family.