Web Essay Part II.

Independent Pro Ana/Mia Domains

Apart from social networks such as Myspace.com and Youtube.com are websites such as http://www.fading-obsession.com/ and http://www.pro-thinspo.com/ . Most of these websites target young women. These sites consist of similar content which consists of links to Body Mass Index calculators , tips and tricks to prevent weight gain, and hundreds of images of thin men and women.

Though some of these websites describe the risk factors involved with eating disorders, these websites also list reasons why a person should continue living as an anorexic or bulimic. Such reasons are found in http://www.fading-obsession.com/ . The unknown writer states about fifty seven reasons why a person should continue living their lifestyle. Some of the reasons stated refer to how important it is to stay thin so that the anorexic and/or bulimic person can be remembered as the “beautiful thin one”. Another reason refers to how boys or men will look at an anorexic or bulimic with attraction because they will not be scared away by the amount of fat on the anorexic and/or bulimic person’s body. Thinness is also emphasized as an attractive feature because the writer claims that the chances of being carried by a boy or man is more likely if a person is not heavy.

Within these websites, starvation is referred to as an act of strength and will power. The main purpose for these websites is to provide a support group for those people who live with the eating disorder. The lifestyle is basically viewed as it's own religion. Some sites include an "Ana Creed" , "Ana Psalm", "commandments" and even "Ana Recipes" (which describe the qualities one must posses in order to be considered at true anorexic and bulimic). The qualities one must posses include low self esteem and determination to keep up with the lifestyle of starving.


Photos of celebrities such as Nicole Ricci, Paris Hilton, Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan are carefully critiqued in these web pages. Underneath these images or within these images are captions about their weight loss . These praise the amount of weight loss by these celebrities and encourage users to follow the same diet plans that these celebrities used.