AnorexiaNervosa-related stories
Pro-anorexia Web sites are growing
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements
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.
Supermodel says families, not fashion to blame for anorexia
Celebrities and Entertainment, Celebs & Entertainment
There's been a lot of debate lately surrounding the fashion industry and its models -- how thin is too thin? The debate flamed even higher recently in Brazil, following the death of a popular supermodel and three other young women from anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is such a hot topic in the South American country that a favorite TV soap opera has built a major story line around it.
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen entered the fray this week, speaking out in defense of the fashion industry. Bundchen feels that young models need strong family support to walk the fine line between thin and too thin. She herself started modeling at 14 and says that though she was away from the protection of family, she still knew she had their support. She says that fashion is not to blame for anorexia nervosa in models, but instead the focus should fall on the families of these women.
Obviously, Gisele has more experience with this topic than I do. After all, she's a supermodel with years of experience and I'm....well....not. But I'm not sure I agree with her. I do agree that strong family support can see a person through multitude of things, probably even the rigors of being a teenage model. But we've talked about the negative effect that the media can have on young girls before, and I don't think the fashion industry has to accept some of the responsibility here. I have to imagine that living in an industry with a culture that's competitive, where the most thin and beautiful become the most successful, has to have a pretty big impact on teenage models.
Of course, it might just be that I rented The Devil Wears Prada last night and am still annoyed that (spoiler alert) Miranda jilted Nigel in such a mean and heartless way. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue!
Supermodel Gisele Bundchen entered the fray this week, speaking out in defense of the fashion industry. Bundchen feels that young models need strong family support to walk the fine line between thin and too thin. She herself started modeling at 14 and says that though she was away from the protection of family, she still knew she had their support. She says that fashion is not to blame for anorexia nervosa in models, but instead the focus should fall on the families of these women.
Obviously, Gisele has more experience with this topic than I do. After all, she's a supermodel with years of experience and I'm....well....not. But I'm not sure I agree with her. I do agree that strong family support can see a person through multitude of things, probably even the rigors of being a teenage model. But we've talked about the negative effect that the media can have on young girls before, and I don't think the fashion industry has to accept some of the responsibility here. I have to imagine that living in an industry with a culture that's competitive, where the most thin and beautiful become the most successful, has to have a pretty big impact on teenage models.
Of course, it might just be that I rented The Devil Wears Prada last night and am still annoyed that (spoiler alert) Miranda jilted Nigel in such a mean and heartless way. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue!
