Pro-anorexia sites "literally killing people"
Pro-ana websites often feature photographs of size zero models
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Saturday, 06, Jan 2007 12:16
A charity has warned that pro-anorexia sites which purport eating disorders to be a lifestyle choice and not an illness are a danger to society.
The Eating Disorders Association (EDA) has warned that so-called pro-ana websites are a great danger to vulnerable people already suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
Some of the disturbing websites provide 'tips' on severe weight loss and even detailed 'how-to' guides about forced vomiting alongside photographs of size zero catwalk models.
Speaking on the Today programme, Steve Bloomfield from EDA said that many scared young people would find it easier to look online for help, where information is unregulated.
"It is quite possible that using a search engine, you might end up with one of these pro-ana sites, rather than a good informational site," he warned.
Mr Bloomfield added that the websites do not detail the "terrible medical complications" associated with eating disorders. Instead, such websites present eating disorders as an attractive "lifestyle choice."
Such websites are arguably increasing the number of lives lost to eating disorders each year, he added: "About one in five people who don't get appropriate treatment die prematurely, so they are literally killing people."
According to EDA, between one and two per cent of the entire female population of the UK are believed to be suffering from anorexia nervosa. In Britain alone, 1.15 million are believed to be living with a diagnosed or undiagnosed eating disorder.