Did you know there are websites that teach young people how to become anorexic and bulimic? This frightening trend is on the rise. Why are our tweens/teens so anxious about their weight? Well, we all know TV/movies/models - Hollywood in general - plays a big role in this trend, because, according to Hollywood, thin and skinny equals beauty and healthy.
One such website is Thinspro (Thinspiration). This website is a collection of images, quotes, and "mantras" meant to inspire or motivate an individual to be thin. I took a look at this website. It has pictures upon pictures upon pictures of very thin...too thin...dangerously thin girls.
"Let me be empty and weightless and maybe I'll find some peace tonight."
"Every day is another day to change your life."
"Make them regret the day they called you fat."
"Just because you are breathing doesn't mean you are alive."
"Make them regret the day they called you fat."
"Just because you are breathing doesn't mean you are alive."
"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." (Kate Moss)
The above are just a few of the quotes scattered throughout the pictures of these too thin girls that are intended to be encouraging.
Thinspo also has many tips for weight loss:
- How to make your metabolism faster
- Facts on how to burn a pound, because "a pound lighter is a pound lighter"
- Eat loads of vegetables and fruit to fill yourself up during every meal
- Use diet pills to reduce body fat
- Learn how to fast, binge and take laxatives and diuretics
- Drink lots of water (even when you're not thirsty) to burn more calories by preventing you from storing fat
- Burn 100 calories to music
- Every 2 jumping jacks equal 1 calorie burnt
- 100 jumping jacks equal one pound GONE
There are also Pro-Ana (pro-anorexic) websites, like PrettyThin, known as the world's largest eating disorder community and forum.
One Pro-Ana site lists the THIN COMMANDMENTS:
1. If you aren't thin, you aren't attractive
2. Being thin is more important than being healthy
3. Buy clothes, cut your hair and take laxatives to
make yourself look thinner
4. Thou shall not eat without feeling guilty
5. Thou shall not eat fattening food without punishing
afterwards
6. Thou shall count calories and restrict intake
accordingly
7. What the scale says is the most important thing
8. Losing weight is good, gaining weight is bad
9. You can never be too thin
10. Being thin and not eating are signs of true
willpower and success
Clinical psychologist Lavinia Rodriguez, author of Mind Over Fat Matters: Conquering Psychological Barriers to Weight Management. "Pro-Ana fuels the denial that already exists in the disorder and entices vulnerable young people to go down the dangerous path of self-destruction termed 'anorexia.'
These online communities are no secret. An individual can "google" any of these keywords to find all the help they need to maintain their eating disorder.
Eating disorders are not just for teens. Children as young as 4 and 5 can develop an eating disorder, and boys are also prone to eating disorders.
If you are a parent, you may want to look into blocking these types of websites from your computer. As I said above, all your child has to do is "google" the right keywords, and they will be taken to one of these dangerous websites.
*www.sheknows.com
