Undercover Eating Disorders
Melinda Oliver - Staff Writer
March 9, 2010
Filed under Features
Years ago, Eating Disorders occurred secretly behind closed bathroom stalls, but suddenly they have erupted into the spotlight, affecting not only females but males, as well. It is estimated that over eight million Americans, teens and adults, struggle or have struggled with some type of eating disorder.
But the startling part, however, is not who this disease affects or the amount of people with it, it’s how acceptable and almost encouraged its becoming.
The most recent generations have been blessed with the worldwide web. Where they can connect and talk to just about anyone they want to. Unfortunately, because of the easy access to the Internet, young people, especially girls, have founded sites that encourage hurting themselves and helping others do the same.
“Pro-Ana” and “Pro-Mia” began on social networks, such as Xanga, Myspace and Facebook as close knit advice groups for girls to learn how to make Bulimia and Anorexia a lifestyle. They are typically very glamorized, with ‘appealing’ young women blogging about ways to fast, use laxatives and emetics “safely”, how to reduce the side-effects of an eating disorder’ and hide them from parents and doctors. They speak to one another as if they are truly trying to aid the other and post pictures and body measurements showing their progression.
Their popularity has grown over the years and is continuing to sweep through the web. The sites normally have disclaimers, saying that people who are Anti-Ana are not welcomed and that they do not need someone to tell them what they are doing is destructive. They say it is not their fault, that they can not help themselves but when reached out to most of them withdraw and refuse to seek any type of treatment.
Sites like this are totally and completely legal. Eating disorders have been proven not to be a personal vanity issue but something very rooted in someone’s psychological health and wellness. These sites have many similarities to cyber bullying. Bulimia and anorexia are both very destructive to the mind, body and self-esteem. It has and can result in death if not handled correctly.
Women and young girls are not the only ones who are being drawn into this disease. It’s becoming more and more common for athletes, as well. Some of the most common cases are ballerinas and wrestlers.
Dancers feel the constant pressure of an unrealistic view of how their bodies must look in order to excel at their art. They become obsessed with perfection in their images and develop eating disorders. What’s even more tragic is that unlike in the general population, where someone’s chances of dying with an eating disorder are one in ten, a dancers is one in five.
“Obviously I’ve felt pressure to be thinner but I’ve never felt the need to take it that far. My studio is really a blessing to me because they want us to be healthy and fit, not sick. The girls who have had Eating Disorders seem so unhappy and at some points, to weak to even dance. It’s not worth it. If you’re dance studio is telling you get skinny however you can. Don’t listen. Don’t hurt yourself,” said Hannah Mitchell, freshman and ballerina.
Instructors might see the signs since their bodies are exposed because of leotards and tight fitting clothing but it is often ignored and just thought of as a sad fact of the art or as a sacrifice a serious dancer has to make.
Wrestlers, although in totally different sports, suffer the same fate in many cases. They often let their drive to remain in their weight classes and to be the best send them on crazy diets and binge eating.
“I think the wrestlers mindset is different but I understand that some of the actions are the same. All the dieting they do with the coach here though is very controlled. I think he understands their bodies more than they even do,” Avery Anderson, sophomore and wrestling manager
The problem with many males and this disease is, unlike most, an eating disorder is embarrassing to admit to because it is often times thought about as a “women’s illness’’. It needs to be discussed and warned against just like with females, seeing as males make up ten percent of the eight million with an eating disorder. are doing is destructive. They say it is not their fault, that they can not help themselves but when reached out to most of them withdraw and refuse to seek any type of treatment.
Sites like this are totally and completely legal. Eating disorders have been proven not to be a personal vanity issue but something very rooted in someone’s psychological health and wellness. These sites have many similarities to cyber bullying. Bulimia and anorexia are both very destructive to the mind, body and self-esteem. It has and can result in death if not handled correctly.
Women and young girls are not the only ones who are being drawn into this disease. It’s becoming more and more common for athletes, as well. Some of the most common cases are ballerinas and wrestlers.
Dancers feel the constant pressure of an unrealistic view of how their bodies must look in order to excel at their art. They become obsessed with perfection in their images and develop eating disorders. What’s even more tragic is that unlike in the general population, where someone’s chances of dying with an eating disorder are one in ten, a dancers is one in five.
“Obviously I’ve felt pressure to be thinner but I’ve never felt the need to take it that far. My studio is really a blessing to me because they want us to be healthy and fit, not sick. The girls who have had Eating Disorders seem so unhappy and at some points, to weak to even dance. It’s not worth it. If you’re dance studio is telling you get skinny however you can. Don’t listen. Don’t hurt yourself,” said Hannah Mitchell, freshman and ballerina.
Instructors might see the signs since their bodies are exposed because of leotards and tight fitting clothing but it is often ignored and just thought of as a sad fact of the art or as a sacrifice a serious dancer has to make.
Wrestlers, although in totally different sports, suffer the same fate in many cases. They often let their drive to remain in their weight classes and to be the best send them on crazy diets and binge eating.
“I think the wrestlers mindset is different but I understand that some of the actions are the same. All the dieting they do with the coach here though is very controlled. I think he understands their bodies more than they even do,” Avery Anderson, sophomore and wrestling manager.
There has been guidelines set in the sport that prevent the athlete’s from dropping to much weight at one time but it’s still difficult to monitor.
The problem with many males and this disease is, unlike most, an eating disorder is embarrassing to admit to because it is often times thought about as a “women’s illness’’. It needs to be discussed and warned against just like it is with females, seeing as males make up ten percent of the eight million with an eating disorder.
Loading ...