Tuesday, October 24, 2006

• Websites promote anorexia

  24 October 2006 By KAMALA HAYMAN
  
  A proliferation of websites promoting anorexia as a lifestyle choice is horrifying dietitians.
  

  Anorexia nervosa is a deadly psychiatric disorder affecting an estimated three in every 1000 females. It is considered the most lethal of all mental illnesses, killing one in five sufferers from starvation, organ failure, or suicide.

  Yet, an internet community exists to support and promote the illness as a lifestyle, referring to anorexia as 'ana' and bulimia as 'mia'.

  Pro-ana websites typically sport 'thinspiration' photos of dangerously thin models and celebrities, such as popular Hollywood starlets Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie and Mary-Kate Olsen, tips and tricks on extreme fasting and exercise. Some sell eating disorder accessories such as bracelets for users to snap against their wrists to remind themselves not to eat.

  Christchurch dietitian Lea Stening said promoting anorexia was "sick".

  "Why would anyone want to do that? It is taking away women's opportunity to have choice in their lives."

  She urged parents to be aware such websites existed.

  "It is a bit like the pornography issue, you should know what your children are up to."

  In the latest New Zealand Doctor magazine, Auckland eating disorder specialist Charles Fishman said the websites were "very dangerous", while Maree Burns, of the Eating Difficulties Education Network, warned they could encourage casual dieters to adopt extreme behaviours.

  A Canadian review of such pro-ana websites, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, found prevalent themes were "control, success, and perfection".

  The authors urged health-care providers and caregivers to be aware of the pro-anorexia websites and their content.

  In a separate study into the effects of these websites, United States researchers randomly assigned young women to look at either pro-ana, female fashion or home decor websites. Those who looked at the anorexia sites were more likely to report decreased self-esteem, insecurity about their appearance, and dissatisfaction with their weight.

  Many such websites carry warnings and disclaimers about their content before going on to describe and promote distorted behaviour.

  One such website lists dozens of "reasons not to eat" and advises a person to "run on sheer mind power alone". It suggests that instead of eating, a person could visit ana websites or start their own.

  In a list of dieting tips, one claims there is "evidence" that drinking cold water helps burn calories. It goes on to make dangerous recommendations for 14 and 21-day fasts.

  Comments posted on websites include the advice that "when you start to get dizzy and weak, you're almost there" and the misguided argument: "It was only recently that psychiatrists changed homosexuality from a disorder. Now it is an alternative lifestyle choice. Why can't anarexia (sic) be the same?"

  South Island Eating Disorders Service psychiatrist Geoff Buckett warned this year that anorexia was striking earlier, with some girls as young as eight seriously ill with the condition. The peak age for anorexia nervosa was 15.

  Buckett said Christchurch was considered the best-resourced area in the country for treating eating disorders, but still suffered from "major shortfalls".

  
  
  

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