What is a pro-ana Web site?
Simply put, pro-anorexic (pro-ana) or pro-bulimic (pro-mia) Web sites encourage its online community to adopt anorexia or bulimia as a lifestyle. These sites keep their visitors coming back with advice, chat rooms and message boards. Each part of an ED (eating disorders) site champions the pro-ana/mia creed: I believe in bathroom scales as an indicator of my daily success. So why do some teens find solace in an ED site? Janice Van Anrooy, a licensed therapist who works with teens suffering from eating disorders, suggests a number of reasons—but none bigger than the relationship a child has with her parents. “The more parents shame [them], the more likely they will retreat to the [Web] sites,” she says. “It becomes a safe haven for them.” Van Anrooy also says the media defines how females and males view their bodies. Madison Avenue, Hollywood, Motown and Cosmopolitan send messages glorifying slimness. As evidence to this, Pro-ana/mia Web site creators proudly display images of Kate Moss
