Pro-anorexia Web sites are growing

Anorexia and bulimia are serious eating disorders, yet there are hundreds of pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia Web sites that encourage the lifestyle. Disturbing.

According to Julie's Health Club, Optenet reported a 470 percent increase in pro-ana/mia Web sites between 2006 and 2007. On these sites, many view anorexia as a lifestyle, providing tips and 'thinspiration' to deal with daily starvation or purging. This is dangerous -- one 2006 study found eating disorder patients using pro-ana sites suffered longer from the condition and had more hospital admissions than non-users. Experts are strongly against pro-ana sites. The non-profit Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. explains exactly why pro-ana is destructive.

Here's where the Internet is a dual-edged sword -- you're just one click away from finding a pro-recovery site or learning a new purging technique.