ANA'S GIRLS
The Essential Guide to the Underground Eating Disorder Community Online
by
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A common misconception about the underground eating disorder community at large is that all sites display the same message and most display the “pro-ana” ideal. In fact the underground community (as apposed to the “warning and recover” group which is far more easily accessed by the general public and better understood by the virtue of their mission) can ideologically be divided into two main categories: pro-eating disorder and pro-ana/mia.
Most members of the greater community formally, through identification, or informally, through displayed behavior and motivation, belong to pro-ed groups. Pro-ed groups encompass all eating disordered behavior however in the greater community people suffering through bulimia or identifying themselves as Mia are less represented than those who are anorexic or Ana. Those with other eating disorders, such as compulsive over eating are represented in even fewer numbers. There are several possible explanations for this.
The first sites were created by those who identified themselves as anorexic, drawing in similar members. Thus at its foundation, the greater community was created by and for anorexics. While bulimics are also food conscious and weight conscious, the act of vomiting is less easily romanticized than starving; take for example, the image of the “starving artist.” Moreover, vomiting is considered to be a more specialized skill than starving and therefore not open to all community members. Indeed it is often thought of as the less preferred method of weight loss and is used as a compensatory rather than prolific weapon in the battle against fat.
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About the Book
This groundbreaking book is the only honest, balanced and complete introduction to the frightening online eating disorder underground. Explore a world that no one wants to believe exists: learn the secret code words, debunk the myths (find out why thousands of young girls are really flooding these sites) and read hundreds of anonymous rants, declarations of commitment and pleas for help from Ana’s girls.
This book does not promote eating disorders. It exposes the undeniable fact that thousands of young people are struggling in isolation with very real, life threatening disorders and we, as a society have not been able to help them. If we ignore this information, we choose to ignore their cry and lose the opportunity to gain potent insight into their world.
Ana’s girls are our children, our sisters, our spouses, our patients and our students; they are represented in every class and race. No community is sheltered from this pain. No community is complete without their health. Let us take the first step towards becoming whole by hearing their cry.
About the Author
Eda R. Uca has been immersed in the online eating disorder underground for over two years. She is trilled to be sharing her investigative work with the public and hopes that it will help break through the isolating misinformation which enshrouds the members of the online eating disorder community. In the future she looks forward to illuminating the position of other underrepresented groups as a means of bringing their cause to the forefront of mainstream society. She lives in