Many of those sites are very triggering to girls and guys who are battling with ED's I know myself that these site sdid trigger my eating disorder and are not always helping my recovery.
However, alot of these sites are also quite helpful. I belong to a forum with alot of people with ED's. there are some who are happy living the way they are living, and there are others who are getting encouragement to recover if the want.

Alot of those girls don't really suffer from anorexia, and they just starve for attention. When I was going through a hard time with binging, fasting, etc. Girls would ASK me how to become so called "ana" ( which I never was ). It's ridiculous. Girls who really suffer from the disease KNOW that the cycle is complete hell, and they would not flaunt it for the life of them. There's a difference between really having the disease, and doing it to be like paris hilton or for some boy they like. I also see girls on xanga,livejournal, etc. who all of a sudden say one day "Oh, I've decided not to starve anymore, it's not worth it." If they really had the disease, they wouldn't be able to stop cold turkey!

I mentioned this on my diary earlier but thought it would be good to repeat it breifly here.

A teacher/club sponsor at my high school has two daughters both who were really active in Key Club, which she sponsored and I was also a member of. Her youngest daughter was my brothers age so I was only in the club with her for a year but she was always at events and conventions with us. I also thought she was just naturally skinny but this past January I learned she had been battling an eating disorder and it had done major damage to her organs, mostly her liver. After seeing her in April most of us thought she was getting better, going to therapy, etc. However, about a week ago she passed away from organ failure. She had been doing better, but it was too late to fix anything. She was only 22 and an amazing person. I feel awful.
I just wanted to share.

That's soo sad, I'm so sorry!

That's sad. She finally escapes, and it took her anyway. People always go on about what bad effects obesity has, but rarely do they mention what bad effects being underweight has.

I know weight issues effect everyone differently. That is why I wanted to share that story-especially on here. No matter how hard we try to withstand the pressure, sometimes it is too much and we find ourselves giving in to those unhealthy habits; skipping meals, over exercising, etc. and I just wanted to remind everyone eating disorders are real. They aren't just a diet. Thanks for understand that!

I read over some of this thread, and I tink some things need to be cleared up. An eating disorder is not simply, I stop eating and thus I lose weight. For a lot of ppl with and Ed, me included, it's a way to controll something. Speaking for myself, it's has nothing to do with the media on why I have ana, it has to do with me. It has to do with my opinon of myself, and how I let other people effect me. I have a lot of friends with ED's and all of them are very simular, it's not the mieda, but usually much closer to home. Like a mom, or dad, or even friends. For me, it was my mom. All she ever wanted to do was protect me to, but in all honestly, I am litterally killing myself to please her. Alot of talk about how the pro sites are scary, and disgusting. I spend hours on them a day, not because I want to be them, but because I am them. I see the pain in their eyes, and what the pictures really are saying. Honestly, those sites let me know I am not alone. If it wasn't for 'pro' sites, I probebly would have comitted suicide a long time ago. Am I sick, I don't know. All I know is people yelling at me to eat, and telling me I am disgusting only makes it worse. Yes I am scared, yes I fight a fight every day, just to take a bite. So what goes through my head when I take a bite of food, everyone telling me I am stupid, or to just eat it's not a big deal, or calling me a stupid ana bitch. Yeah I know I need to stop, but the scary part is, at the same time I don't want to stop. I don't know a single "pro ed" who is really proud of having an ed. They claim their happy, but again it's just a mask, a mask that a lot of us feel we have to put on to make everyone else happy. Honestly every time I say I am okay, I am really begging for help. Worst part is, like most ppl with an ed realise, by the time you realise you need help, no one wants to help you. Your friends are mad at you because you don't eat, family pretends they don't see anything is wrong. It's like being a doll in a glass house, we have to smile, we have to say were okay. cause if we ever admite were not, we suddenly realize how truly alone we are.

the mediadoesnt really bother me. mainly becuase all those women that are supposedly beuatiful ARE UGLY imo. they wear too much make up, too skinny, ugly minds, and superficual to boot. thats the last thing id wanna be like! but i can see how it affects people though. i also think the way the media words things is bad. like how one week they have a whole section on diets, like a lo carb one, then the next week carbs are in?

I dont believe in diets. they are ALL money making things. food is either good for you, or not. only you know the truth. if some tiny skinny woman wants to write an article about "how to be beautiful" dont follow it until you read up about who wrote it. i bet you she wasnt even that big. probably starved herself. and now lives in fear of food. DONT FEAR FOOD. its natural to eat. the more you resent food, and eating, the more you turn to extremes like anorexia. you just have to be informed about portion sizes (without obsessing about weighing food) be informed about food that is good and healthy, and dont fall vicitim to media bullsh@t hype about "superfoods" and "lose 1000 pounds in a week on the cut yoru fat off with a knife diet".

just remember how many diets you tried and how many times youve failed. think about how much fat you have left n you and it all makes sense. no diet will make you loose weight. the food you choose to put in your mouth, and your mental state, will.

loose weight for your health not for your looks. then you will begin to seee the more important side of weight loss. staying alive longer, being full of life, vitality...becuase even skinny people are unhealthy. you know between fat people and skinny people fat people live a bit longer? why is that? becuase they actually eat, although too much. learn to find the midde ground...DONT starve yourself. DONT put your body through more stress. DONT put your mind through more stress by "wanting to look like paris hilton" or some skank ass celebrity. aim to look like YOURSELF. the person you want to be inside. and outside.

its a shame people have to be like that. its a mentality that covers all asdpects of life - eating disorders, work pressure, school. people are always trying to better you but by not being in your shoes often people step the line between being a freind and being unhelpful. i dont know anyone thats proud of ED. i dont know anyone thats proud of cgetting over an ED, becuase they had it in the first place. but dont blame yourself. dont feel like you have to smile. then the ED is winning. please dont let it win becuase the consequences arent good. if your not happy, then let someone know. it will be tough,, and yes youll feel exposed and alone. but what are you now? do you think being anorexic is a better thing? sometimes you have to hurt to get better. do it now! add me on msn if you want some support.

and if anyone tells you youre stupid for having ed, then they are stupid, misinformed and down right rude. your not stupid. in fact your very clever for at least knowing you have a problem. use your mind to get out of it and get healty. then show them disbelievers who is stupid!!

I find them helpful because I don't feel alone when I post on them.

Do I agree with "pro ana" sites. Of course not. Let me just say this coming from a young guy: Guys don't like skeletons. We want to girls to be healthy looking. A stick figure is a huge turnoff.

That makes sense until you notice guys going gaga over Victoria's Secret models....

Victoria secret models are usually not(at least several years ago when I would look at those mags) rail thin. They are at least healthy and don't look like skeletons.

Agreed 100%^,

Victoria's Secret models have gotten a little better indeed. They aren't deathly thin but they're still extremely slender. Even though I'd love to look like one of the models, I know I never will and even if I lose a ton of weight, I just won't be shaped that way.