Pro-eating disorder website information for MA thesis

[Lovepotion69]

Hi everybody!

I figured I'd give this a chance. I've started working on my thesis. The topic is pro-eating disorder websites.

Last year Yahooo took away some site which held communities that encouraged eating disorders and similar. Still, there are communities, message boards etc that still form communities for people who have eating disorders. These communities exchange information how to best lose weight, some blatantly promote starvation, and many post images of role models that are ultra skinny.

I am to write 3 articles (2000 words each) for my project.

1) General information about the phenomenon of pro-eating disorder websites/communities.

2) I want a human interest story here. Personal experiences from a couple/few people who have suffered of eating disorders, and perhaps ended up within these online communties. Their take on it. Here doctors and experts comments will also come in more about the risks or overhype(?)

3) Are these type of sites dangerous? In what sense? Should they be stopped? If so why? If not, why? Freedom of speech and censorship issues will come into thos third article.


If anyone know where I can get info (like a good website, a good Uni that does research on eating disorders, know someone who has been in the situation and is willing to talk to me etc), please help me out!

I'd really appreciate it.

/LP

 

[sexy-girl]

i was lucky i believe ... i did have a minor eating disorder when i was younger although i never seeked help for it ... i felt it could of got a lot worse but lucky it didn't get any worse before i realized what i was doing ... i felt my depression/moods were linked to my eating habits

for me i find i have to have a tighter control over my eating ... i cant let my food habits be linked to my emotions as much as other people can ... if i do let my eating habits become linked to my emotions again i know if i go through a bought of depression then i will stop eating like i did before

if i over eat because im bored ... or i skip a meal because im tired or missing my girlfriend ... those are the warning signs for me and i force myself to eat 3 normal meals the next day regardless of how i feel



i think those websites are very dangerous when you have an eating disorder you get stuck in a delusional state ... the only person that can get you out of that is yourself it doesn't matter what anyone else says ... i think those websites help to maintain the delusion for longer .... although i've never seen one ... i dont know what can be done about them but i do think a better understanding is needed of what people get out of them

 

[Lovepotion69]

Thanks sexy-girl for you input! I do appreciate it. And yes, there certainly needs more information and understanding regarding websites or other type of media and its affects on people.

/LP

 

[sexy-girl]

*bump* i'd like to hear anymore peoples views too ... im interested to hear if any other people have felt like they were close to having an eating disorder

 

[Laurel]

When I eat, I often end up with crumbs in my lap and food on my face.

Is that a disorder, or am I just a slob?

 

[cymbidia]

I know something about eating disorders frm the perspective of the parent of a disordered daughter. I know a lot about it, actually, far more than any parent ever wants to know.

My experience:
http://www.something-fishy.org/words/artical_029.php
and then
http://www.something-fishy.org/words/artical_030.php

About pro-eating disorders websites:
http://www.something-fishy.org/sfwed/pressrelease_021102.php

An example of what's been labelled a pro-eating disorders website by various media:
http://www.anorexicweb.com/

 

[Saint Peter]

When I eat, I often end up with crumbs in my lap and food on my face.

Is that a disorder, or am I just a slob?

That is just plain kinky. And I have never heard of it refered to as "food." Carry on.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Thank you cymbidia for the links. I have looked into the something-fishy site a bit. I will try to get hold of the webmaster for the www.anorexic.com site.

/LP

I know something about eating disorders frm the perspective of the parent of a disordered daughter. I know a lot about it, actually, far more than any parent ever wants to know.

My experience:
http://www.something-fishy.org/words/artical_029.php
and then
http://www.something-fishy.org/words/artical_030.php

About pro-eating disorders websites:
http://www.something-fishy.org/sfwed/pressrelease_021102.php

An example of what's been labelled a pro-eating disorders website by various media:
http://www.anorexicweb.com/

 

[Needssome]

Hey...What are you studying to get your MA in? Just curious...I'm planning on going to grad school for psych and I'm working on an undergrad thesis on connections between the fast food and diet industry.

As for eating disorders, I've never had one myself however my sister developed one at about the age of ten (she's 20 now). Fortunately she never got to the point where she had to be hospitalized. She always ate just enough to keep herself going, and not much more. When she was first starting to get bad and I would ask her why she wouldn't eat (or why she would constantly throw up), she always said it was because she didn't want to get fat like me. (I wasn't even really fat).

She's better now and eats regularly. She still has a weird relationship with food though. She's a vegan and tends to only eat the same things over and over again like when she was sick. When she first became anorexic, all she would eat if she did eat was a certain type of frozen macaroni cheese and soda crackers. In high school, everyday all she would have for lunch was bagel - that was it. Now, she eats french fries constantly and guzzles pop. I'm afraid that her bones will be paper thin when she gets older, but I take solace in the fact that at least her body is getting some nourishment.

It's hard living with someone with an eating disorder who won't admit there's something wrong. I cried myself to sleep nights wishing something would happen to her during one of her workouts (she also exercised excessively) so that it would prove to her that what she was doing was dangerous.

But that's just how I saw things.......

 

[Lovepotion69]

Dear Needssome,
Thanks for your response. I'm doing my MA in International Journalism here in London. I have till 20 Sep to finish my thesis. It's a 6000 word project (the articles) and then a 6000 word dissertation. So, I have two months for it!!!

I personally don't know anyone with any eating disorder, but I wouldn't be surprised if I know someone without knowing it.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

/LP

 

[Lovepotion69]

BUMP!!!

Just to see if I can get any more responses....



/LP

 

[Angel]

I posted some links awhile back when a bunch of these pro-sites were talked about on Oprah.

I did a search but i can't find the thread... I'll keep looking though.

 

[Lovepotion69]

I posted some links awhile back when a bunch of these pro-sites were talked about on Oprah.

I did a search but i can't find the thread... I'll keep looking though.

Thanks Angel, don't worry too much about finding them, but if you do I'd be very thankful.

/LP

 

[Angel]

Found it

http://literotica.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=57260&highlight=Eating+Disorder+Oprah

 

[Angel]

K, those links don't work anymore Sorry.

 

[Lovepotion69]

K, those links don't work anymore Sorry.

Thanks anyway Angel. I will check later on if they may work or not. Thanks for the help, I appreciate it!

/LP

 

[Lovepotion69]

BUMP

Ok, I'm bumping this one in a bid to see if anyone can give me contacts or info for people who have visited these type of sites, or run one, or now how to get in touch with someone who runs one...


/LP