^^; just noticing the debate over is 115 lbs 5"2 too low? well her bmi is healthy and actually in the middle of the range. Of course bmi is only an estimate but I doubt there's much to worry. I would also like to point out that on a short woman, 1-2 kg (overseas ) shows a lot more than on a taller person simply because well tall people have more body surface to add it on. A taller person with a few extra kg will seem leaner than a shorter one. ah well =) and looked at some of those websites per say, although I wanted to laugh, I still felt rather sad for them.

Agreed. An eating disorder is not something you catch or a fashion statement you "try on". It's a mental disorder.

Mental disorders can be caused by outside influences, other than "nature". Society, experiences, injuries, diseases, genetics, drugs, etc. All of those things can cause somebody to have a mental disorder.

I disagree some of the forums for EDs and website are meant to branch out to others who have the disorder in a need to gain some normalcy in their already effed up lives. Even tho its mental disorder people still need to know that there are others like them out there. The sites are not meant for tips or anything, alot of the forums actually prohibit other anas and mias to "give out" tips to people who are looking to lose weight. I will never think of it a a fashion statment and think its close minded for some people to think its a solution for weigh loss and something people can just snap out of--because its just not.

Partially. Psychosocial and physiological stressors can interact with genetic vulnerability to alter brain chemistry and thus alter the individual's mental health.

It seems more of a predisposition in reaction to environmental stressors, rather than just environment alone. Many go on to lead healthy lives, despite their environment.

I stopped frequenting those sites years ago. The last I knew of the ones I went to, perpetuated thinspiration. There was no branching out for feelings of normalcy. I guess times have changed?

Many people have a predisposition to get cancer, but they never develop cancer. Why? Because, everything you do (your choices, your environment, your diet, your personality, etc) effects you, whether it's in a positive way or a negative way.

Some people have actual physical problems with their brain and the way it works, which makes it very, very hard to tame their resulting mental disorders. But, a lot of people's mental disorders are caused by their psychology (the way they think, the emotions they feel, the way they handle their emotions, etc)...those things can all be controlled.

Most of the time. Studies show these days that food additives, food coloring and raging food allergies are the cause for many mood disorders.

I suppose we could go on about this though, although, I do agree with you

I agree with your signature.

These Thinspiration sites that I've seen make me feel ill. Reading these posts by these young girls about alternating between 100-800 calories, is horrifying.

But I think the most DISTURBING aspect is that, though I know this is so wrong, I'm envious in a way. Because they're starving themselves, pounds drop off faster then what's healthy, so while it may take me a few months to lose 10lbs, one of these girls could lose the same amount in a fifth of the time. Not only that, but the girls who are truly committed to this get to be thin, as I'd like to be, get the guy, get accepted by their peers, and don't have to be alone, like those who are overweight.

I GET that in the long run, they're only hurting themselves. I GET that many won't succeed and will just burn themselves out, and regain the weight. But I don't fully get why I feel this way.

This is really hard to phrase, honestly. I could go on all day about how anorexia is bad for you, as we all could, but it's much harder to reflect with yourself, and figure out why it bothers YOU, the individual, so much.

You asked what I think? Well, I was involved in these sites for years. I was a member of several of them. They are sad, yes. But when you are in the middle of it it's hard to see that what you are doing is even odd. It seems sooo....normal? It's your normal anyway. You can't think of anything else and so these sites give you a way to continue on in your obsessiveness. To be perfectly honest, a lot of these girls are very young. I don't believe 14 year old girls should have unlimited, unsupervised access to the internet. Not to say all the girls are young, I was not and I know many many of the women/men on these sites are over thirty (not usually on the sites that admit to be pro-ana). I guess I feel that these kinds of sites are a good reason to pay attention to what your children are doing on the computer.

Wow. I didn't read all the posts here - but I'm quoting the ones that I did read which pretty much covered my point of view on this. I totally agree with what these two members here have said about this horrendous issue.

I knew a girl since I was in kindergarten - went through high school with her - and in high school she developed one of the most severe cases of anorexia that anyone in my states very good hospital system has ever dealt with at that time. It was horrid. I've never forgotten her warped view of herself and the world - nor the lectures the health teachers gave us trying to help us see what she was "seeing." Never forget it. It is an abomination that anyone ever develops such a warped view - but sadly, it happens, and it happens often.

My ex-b's ex-wife went from being an uber tall sexy curvy thin woman, to getting too far into fitness and losing all over her curves and turning into an uber-tall hard bodied boy essentially. He gets sick thinking of what she now turned herself into. She hopes to enter body competitions, but she looks like a boy. What a shame also. I always felt less than her in looks because she had it all - height and curves. Man o man. I don't envy her anymore at all - and we're the same age exactly.

So it isn't just young people. It isn't just girls. It isn't just a genetic mental illness - it is thrust upon people of any age. I get so angry and upset when I see people dissing themselves - even on here. I've seen some young folks on here post their pics - they look very slim and trim - and yet they say, "do I still look fat?" What the....???

*sigh* ranting. Sorry. I'm just ranting. This is a hot button topic for me. I know many recovering eating disorder people on another forum. It breaks my heart - this is a lifetime issue they will have to fight - it is like alcoholism - you're always an alcoholic even after you quit - and those with an eating disorder will have to be ever vigilant to stay "healthy" after they see the light.

I'll shut up now.

I actually think that's a pretty normal reaction, it's probably what motivates most of the people on that site. When people really want something they will happily look past the bad and glorify the good.

I know how you feel hun, because I've felt that way.
those extreme diets are a quick fix, and they work at the moment. knowing that you choose health over losing weight/ and your water and muscle, is tougher than it looks because we have a weight loss overload- correct and incorrect info everywhere.
it can make you feel envious if what takes you months can take someone a couple of weeks. I always feel jealous of people with high metabolism who say ''they can eat everything and not gain weight'' gah. I usually feel bad about it but it is totally normal!

A very low calorie diet (800 calories or less) will put you into starvation mode, fat is preserved and muscle ends up being most of what is the first to go.

Muscle weighs more than fat, so you will see a definite change in what the scale says. Muscle also boosts your metabolic rate, so when you lose muscle, your metabolism is going to slow down.

I know this all too well. My mom raised me as a single mom. Sometimes she would move into our aunt's house when she couldn't live on her own. I, of course, hated it. I felt like I was being starved, because my aunt wouldn't let me eat. I was a fat guy, she was a thin woman, yet she expected me to eat as much as she did. Note that I was not exactly a ravenous eater, it was the content of what I ate that ended up keeping me fat. I ended up weighing less, but looking worse.