The rise of anorexia and obesity in the western world has resulted in what can be called a serious health and psychological epidemic. In the Unites States, 44.2% of the population are obese, due in part to our increasing expectation that women should be thin. Both disorders are the cause of hundreds of pre-mature deaths, and their prevalence has created a sub-culture for pro-anorexia and pro-obesity movements, which each have a large following. In my opinion, the Internet is a major factor that has allowed both of these movements to expand rapidly and easy access to the World Wide Web, has given broad access to these sub-cultures and generated popularity and a vast number of devoted followers. .
Anorexia is the most lethal of all psychological disorders, and obesity has equally serious health risks, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and death. With this knowledge it is hard to fully understand the reason or main argument for these websites, which seem to perpetuate a detrimental cycle that is both physically and psychologically unhealthy, and may further increase the number of deaths by these disorders. However, I do understand how these sub-cultures could provide support and help fight discrimination, or be a healthy outlet to express thoughts and emotions with those similar to you. Therefore it is still unclear if pro-anorexia and pro-obesity websites are harmful or helpful?.
It is evident that American culture holds women to an impossible and narrow standard of female ˜beauty', and as society polices women, we often police ourselves, internalizing damaging notions of what our bodies 'should' look like, and there is a growing demographic of women and teens who have taken this internalization to the extreme. They are women who identify as 'pro-anorexia.' I began my search here with the pro-ana movement, which is a sub-culture full of women who are aware that they have an eating disorder, and either want to eventually seek treatment and recover or want support, tips and advice on how to stay thin and loose weight fast.
