These include pro anorexia (pro ana) and pro bulimia (pro mia) websites which include galleries of pictures of models and celebrities that appear very thin (Super Thin Celebs), tips on losing weight and hiding their eating disorder, lists of 'safe foods' that don't have many calories and foods that increase your metabolism (like celery and green tea), forums and chat rooms to talk with other 'pro-rexies'.
They also support messages, such as 'Nothing Tastes As Good As Thin Feels,' 'Nothing is so bad that losing weight won't cure,' have articles about the 'Joys of Anorexia', 'The beauty of Bulimia', how to 'teach one another how to play the dangerous game', and how to figure out the minimum number of calories you need each day to stay alive. They also have their own ana food pyramid, which consists mostly of water, diet pills, diet soda, coffee, and cigarettes and advises to use food 'sparingly'.
And they have rules, such as 'The THIN-commandments' and 'Thinspirations'.
Does your teen know what a pro ana or mia is?
Does she know who the 'dragonflies' are (a large community of pro anas)?
Is she trying to be an ana or mia?
Has he or she visited one of these pro eating disorder (pro ed) websites?
Does he or she have an ana journal or diary?
Has he or she started wearing a red bracelet as 'a kind of "solidarity" thing' with other anas?
Does your child understand that anorexia is not a choice and is instead an addiction?
If you think your child is trying to become an ana or mia or has other signs of an eating disorder, further evaluation is important. This might include a medical evaluation from your Pediatician. and a psychological evaluation with a psychiatrist and/or psychologist.
