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Could pro-anorexia websites actually serve a positive purpose?

For the high resolution, please contact:
Pietro Naj-Oleari,
European Parliament,
Information General Directoratem,
Web Communication Unit,
Picture Editor.
Phone: +32479721559/+32.2.28 40 633
E-mail: pietro.naj-oleari@europarl.europa.eu
For the high resolution, please contact: Pietro Naj-Oleari, European Parliament, Information General Directoratem, Web Communication Unit, Picture Editor. Phone: +32479721559/+32.2.28 40 633 E-mail: pietro.naj-oleari@europarl.europa.eu
(
Pietro Naj-Oleari / © European Union 2012 - European Parliament (via Flickr)
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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The term "pro-ana" is shorthand for pro-anorexia. It's a movement, found primarily online, promoting behaviors related to the eating disorder. Photographs, songs and quotes are shared— serving as inspiration for starvation.

For years, experts believed such sites were a bad influence on those struggling with anorexia. The French government recently cracked down on "pro-ana" sites, making it a crime to "incite excessive thinness." 

But now a crew of researchers, activists, and therapists are claiming pro-ana sites may actually serve a beneficial purpose.

Amanda Hess wrote about this recently for Slate.

To hear the full interview with Amanda Hess, click the link above.

You can find more information about eating disorders at NationalEatingDisorders.org