'Social Websites like MySpace Encourage Anorexia', Warn Charities

(August 10, 2007) -- Eating disorder charities have called on social websites such as MySpace, Facebook and Youtube to have tighter controls on their content, after they found anorexic girls using them to encourage each other to starve themselves.

The bizarre fad - known as thinspiration - is partly driven by ultra skinny celebrities such as Nicole Richie and Victoria Beckham. Now thousands of shocking videos showing off images of extremely thin women have been posted by teens on popular film clip site You Tube.

They are also taking advantage of the spread of social networking sites such as Facebook to encourage each other not to eat and swap tips on slimming pills.

Teens are already signing up to Facebook groups such as Get thin or die trying, which has 901 members, thinspo, bulimia and It's all about being really skinny.

MySpace has groups such as Pro Ana Nation, which has more than 1,000 members, which states under its rules: "No people trying to recover. It ruins our motivation."

Hundreds of thousands of people have viewed film clips of emaciated looking teens and 20's something women on the hit website You Tube.

Eating disorder charities have called on social websites to look closely at the material being posted and for tighter controls on the internet.

The International Eating Disorder Centre, based in Aylesbury, Bucks, said thinspiration videos do not help people wanting to recover from an eating disorder and did not promote good health.

Susan Ringwood, Chief Executive Officer of beat, the UK's leading eating disorder charity said: "Eating disorders are a serious mental illness, not a fad, a phase, or a fashion accessory. They are not a lifestyle choice either, and anything that could mislead or attempt to persuade a vulnerable young person about this is potentially very harmful.

"The sooner someone gets the help they need, the more likely they are to make a full recovery - yet some aspects of the pro-ana world deliberately try to encourage people to avoid treatment.

"At beat, we want to change the way we all think and talk about eating disorders, and that means showing we can provide that acceptance and understanding, so that a pro-ana group isn't the only refuge there is."

Kay Fielding, 16, from Gloucestershire, is one such teen who aspires to weigh just 7.6 stones and uses the videos as 'thinspiration'.

Kay, a sixth form student, who is already a slight eight stone, said: "I'm unhappy with my weight and the way my body looks. I wish I could be slightly slimmer because I just feel there are some parts of my body weight I cannot shift.

"My favourite celebrity and model is Kate Moss and my next goal weight is her weight of 107lbs, (7.6 stone) which I read somewhere. I first started looking at thinspiration videos about a year ago.

"I felt like a failure because I couldn't fit the image they projected. But I was also really inspired because the people who made the videos were only trying to support other people with eating disorders, not trying to force a condition on someone else.

"I look at the videos now every few days and I save the images I like on my computer. "I restrict my calorie intake, and if there's an event that's coming up I might fast for a day, and then eat just fruit and vegetables."

One 22-year-old video-maker, calling herself Lolaleberg, insists she does not promote anorexia or encouraging girls to become anorexic.

Lolaleberg, who says her nickname is Sara and lives in Berkshire, said: "I make these videos to help me stay strong. By staying strong I mean it helps me to focus on my goals, work out harder and eat less."

One of her videos is called Anamadim has 12,779 hits and she says on the site: "The word 'ana' is not short for anorexia, rather Anamadim, the goddess whom allows me to fast for days on end with ease."

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But the social networking sites defended their decision to allow pro-anorexic groups on their sites.

A spokesman for MySpace said: "Rather than censor these groups, we are working to create partnerships with organisations that provide resources and advice to people suffering from such problems, and we will target those groups with messages of support," he said.

Source: Daily Mail

Last updated: 08/07

Related Information:

• Could You Be Fostering an Eating Disordered Child?
• Helping Your Teen with Weight Management
• How Do Mothers Contribute to Their Daughter's Eating Disorders and Weight Concerns?
• Talking to Your Teen About Eating Disorders: Mother and Daughter
• Young 'Unable to Talk' About Eating Disorders
• Worshipping 'Ana' Eating Disorders Take on a Life of Their Own
• Anorexia Nervosa - The Most Deadly Mental Illness
• What is Body Image and How Do You Improve It
• Stop Hating Your Body!
• Know When to Seek Help for Your Child
• Teen Girls Who Are Frequent Scale-Steppers Often Have more Weight Problems
• Could You Be Fostering an Eating Disordered Child?
• Helping Your Teen with Weight Management
• How Do Mothers Contribute to Their Daughter's Eating Disorders and Weight Concerns?
• Talking to Your Teen About Eating Disorders: Mother and Daughter

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