Eating Disorders are NOT Weight Loss Tools

In my previous post, I highlighted the importance of eating disorders and the harm caused by them. Many might understand the depth of these disorders as they’re caused by serious mental disturbances; however, eating disorders are still misunderstood and thought by some to be self-prescribed weight loss programs. In this blog post I will point out some resources used to clear up any questions regarding eating disorders and provide sources to help people receive treatment. I also want to identify some sources that are unreliable in that they support eating disorders as a way to lose weight and encourage people to develop these eating patterns.

Get Facts and Get Help 

1. Do Something is a great site for those looking to broaden their knowledge on eating disorders. Many people know the basics of eating disorders, but this source is useful for identifying statistics in order to acknowledge how prevalent and damaging these disorders really are. For example, I learned that eating disorders cause the most deaths of any mental illness which puts into perspective how detrimental this illness is. 
2. Walden Behavioral Care gives four detailed steps to help someone struggling with an eating disorder get started with recovery. The four steps in include:

• Reach out to someone you trust

• Seek a professional opinion

• Research treatment options

• Make a commitment

They also give sources within each step for further information, and there’s a chat section for people to directly reach out to the company. This source is important for those beginning to seek guidance for treatment of an eating disorder. 

3. Help Guide is an awesome resource that informs people on how to help others who have an eating disorder. They give some great background information on eating disorders, so the person can educate themselves before they reach out to someone with an eating disorder. I also really like the section provided on common myths about eating disorders. It’s important to look past the media and learn the facts on these mental illnesses. Lastly, it informs people on how to talk to someone you may be concerned about.  

Lose These Sources if you Want to Lose Weight

1. This website explains how being “thin” is a necessity during this time in order to be accepted, and developing anorexia is the best way to accomplish this. This theory is commonly known as “Pro Ana” and it has a large group of supporters who aim to keep their weight under their suggested BMI in order to gain features like thigh gaps, defined collar bones, and flat waists. This source also includes a list of suggested tips for achieving this “goal” including intermittent fasting, showing more skin, excessively working out, and purging. This is 100% inappropriate and should therefore not be advertised to women as a healthy way to feel attractive and lose weight. Eating disorders should not be promoted as diets when they are mental illnesses. 

2. Crazy Figures is another “Pro Ana” source that provides several diets that can be used to achieve extreme weight loss. Some of the diets include:

• “Skinny Bitch Diet” which cuts out all meat, dairy, sugar, and processed foods

• “Five Bites Diet” which includes 5 bites of porridge, 5 bites of a sandwich, and 5 bites of pasta in a day

• “Russian Gymnast Diet” which includes a glass of juice, a fruit salad, and an apple in a day

These ridiculous diets are not scientifically proven and they’re used to promote unhealthy eating habits. I also encountered many spelling and grammatical errors throughout the website, which adds to my case that it is a very unreliable source. 

3. Quora is a question and answer forum in which people can ask about almost anything they wish and get answers and insight from others who have an account. I came across an astonishing amount of questions regarding people trying to develop an eating disorder in order to lose weight quickly. Many people asked for advice on how to become anorexic, what the best “Pro Ana diets” are, and how to hide the signs of an eating disorder so people won’t notice. These disturbing forums push people further into the depths of mental illness instead of leading them toward help.

To Sum it Up

These websites provide a wide variety of resources available to people regarding eating disorders. Obviously, some of them are more useful than others, but it’s important to know of the informative sites and the sites providing misinformation so we can get the facts needed to get help people with eating disorders.