Expert: Meg - 2/1/2006

Question
Hello! My name is Jessica and I am a high school student from Delaware.  I have chosen to research “Pro-ana websites” for my research paper in English class. I was just wondering if I could take a few minutes of your time so you could answer the questions below for me. I figured it would be a great idea to quote an expert in my paper and learn what you have to say about the pro-anorexia movement online. I just want to thank you so much if you find the time to answer my questions; I really appreciate it!
1.   Do you think pro-anorexia websites could cause healthy teens to become obsessed with their weight and body?
2.   Could the continued viewing of these sites cause a teen with anorexia to hinder towards their recovery from the illness?
3.   Do you think these websites should be eliminated? If so, why and how?
4.   Could these sites have an effect on teens in recovery and recovered teens to cause them to “relapse” back into their old ways?
5.   Should the website managers of these websites be prosecuted?
6.   Do you think these websites are protected by the first amendment?
7.   *Any other comments/remarks you would like to make on the topic of anorexia and pro-anorexia websites*


Answer
Hi Jessica,

First off, my sincere apologies for being a bit slow in responding to your question.  For some reason, I did not get a question notification on this and just logged in to find it here. I hope that its not too late to help with your project.

Anyway, here are my answers to your questions and good luck with your project!

Best,
Meg

1. Do you think pro-anorexia websites could cause healthy teens to become obsessed with their weight and body?

That is a tough call.  I do not think that healthy teens are going to fall prey just because of looking at a pro-anorexia website, however I do think that they could influence teens who are either already eating disordered or else teens who are on the edge between healthy and not. I would think that those for borderline teens, such websites might prove alluring and influence them to get sick.  And, I do think that for those teens already engaged in an eating disorder, they can become competition sites and further encourage and normalize eating disordered behavior.

2. Could the continued viewing of these sites cause a teen with anorexia to hinder towards their recovery from the illness?

I truly believe that once a person truly wants to recover, then she will do so.  That said, yes...of course, seeing the idealized anorexic and reading about pro-anorexic topics are going to make recovery harder and be triggering for the sufferer.

3. Do you think these websites should be eliminated? If so, why and how?

That is a tough question, as I do belive strongly in freedom of speach and also feel that someone who *wants* to be sick is going to do so-with or without such websites.  I think that the owners of these sites should be encouraged to think about their actions and the ramifications, but I'm not sure that I (even having had suffered myself) would say that they should be illegal.  

4. Could these sites have an effect on teens in recovery and recovered teens to cause them to “relapse” back into their old ways?

Definitely!  If someone is tottering between sickness and health and continues to visit such sites, they can draw her back to unhealthy ways.  

5. Should the website managers of these websites be prosecuted?

Again, just my opinion, I don't think so.  Sadly, I think a lot of the website managers are girls who themselves are suffering.  Most of them probably aren't healthy enough in mind to even understand what they are doing.  

6. Do you think these websites are protected by the first amendment?
Again, I realize that my answer might be controversial (and again, do not support in any way, shape or form, such sites) but I do think that they are a consititutional right.  Yes...

7. *Any other comments/remarks you would like to make on the topic of anorexia and pro-anorexia websites*

As I said, I think that they are harmful and would be thrilled if they did not exist.  I have seen girls get worse because of visiting them and I don't care for them one bit myself.  They seem to lead to competition and further development of eating disoredered thinking and behaviors.  That said, I feel that this is the same as reading about alcohol or drugs or any other not so healthy behavior.  The information is always going to be out there in one form, and I think that a really important part of getting healthy again for someone who suffers/suffered from an eating disorder is learning the skills to deal with such things and hopefully learning that although temptation may be there, she can avoid it and get healthy.