Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders are generally
frowned upon and discouraged among teens, and skin and bones isn’t attractive
to the majority of people, no matter how you cut it. So why are so many teens
still engaging in this harmful behavior? Log onto any social media site and
you’re bound to see pictures of food, links to weight loss tips, and people
complaining about their weight. That’s just normal, everyday life, right? Maybe.
But maybe not. While you and I may seem these acts as normal, people who
struggle with disordered views of their body may see it as an open door to
encouraging eating less and working out more, to the point that they’re
battling for their lives, even though they may see it as battling for a better
body.
Pinterest
Pinterest recently came under fire for inadvertently
encouraging “thinspiration” for people suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and
other disordered eating habits and views on how the body should look. Jezebel
recently released an article detailing this “thinspo” phenomenon, showing
how women were congregating together and
creating “thinspo” Pinterest boards where they pinned pictures of women who
were bare bones to inspire them to be thinner as well.
Since then, when you search Pinterest for
“thinspiration” a warning message will come up saying “Eating
disorders are not lifestyle choices, they are
mental disorders that if left untreated can cause serious health problems or
could even be life-threatening.For treatment referrals,
information, and support, you can always contact the National Eating Disorders
Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237 or www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.”
Twitter
A quick
Twitter hashtag search for #proana will bring up everyone discussing any and
all things related to pro-anorexia. Girls and guys alike post pictures of bones
jutting out, siting this as #thinspiration and being #proana. There are tweets
showing what #proanas do at restaurants, with a picture of coloring books. And
there’s even a new pro-ana Twitter account that offers tips for those wishing
to engage in a pro-anorexia lifestyle.
Facebook
Not to be
left out, the largest social media site definitely has its place in the
disturbing world of encouraging disordered eating and helping people strive for
thighs that don’t touch and collar bones that stick out. One search of
“thinspiration” and “pro-ana” brings up fan pages and support groups, giving
people a place to swap stories and tips, and post goal pictures and (what is
deemed to be) success pictures when they achieve a certain amount of thinness.
Encouraging Thinspiration
In our quest
to eliminate obesity and encourage healthy habits, there is always the risk of
people, teens especially, taking advice too literally and too far, especially
with the extreme focus in the media of stars sporting unattainable bodies and
going on crazy crash diets. However social media has given these type of people
a new outlet and even community that encourages these views. It’s not
necessarily the fault of social media, but it is definitely one of the
consequences of connecting people around the world.
Author Byline:
Monta the mother of three children serves as an Expert
Advisor on multiple household help issues to many Organizations and groups, and
is a mentor for other “Mom-preneurs” seeking guidance. She is a regular contributor of “gonannies.com”. You can get in touch with her at
montafleming6Atgmail dotcom.
No comments:
Post a Comment