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The Lancet, Volume 379, Issue 9811, Page 110, 14 January 2012
doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60048-8
www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60048-8/fulltext?version=printerFriendly
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criminals too, says Ringwood. Although many young people with eating disorders are aware of pro-ana websites, their parents and many health professionals, might be unaware. Health professionals working in eating disorders will be aware of pro-ana sites and of the associated tips and tricks and how to deal with them, but other health professionals likely to come into contact with patients with eating disorders such as GPs [general practitioners], nurses, dietitians, and other doctors I suspect are less aware of these issues, suggests Schmidt. Since censorship is impractical and could marginalise people with anorexia, educating the public about the dangers of these sites is the most effective alternative. However, traditional methods for raising public awareness, such as media campaigns, could have counter productive effects by drawing attention to these sites. In a 2009 position paper on pro-ana websites, the UK's Royal College of Psychiatrists called on the media not to make pro-ana websites into headline news, not to report their content in a sensationalised way and not to report how to access them, as this may lead to increased use of such sites. Meanwhile, the UK's Body Confidence Campaign has pledged to improve the media's knowledge about eating disorders and the National Eating Disorders Association has launched Proud2Bme, an online community that provides support and advice, while promoting a positive body image and encouraging healthy attitudes about food and weight. Although these efforts will help reduce the number of people visiting pro-ana sites, they will not completely solve the problem. People with anorexia are attracted to these sites because they provide a virtual refuge where they can freely express themselves, without fear of judgment. We believe the answer lies in providing that same sense of acceptance and support throughout society, so that a pro-ana site is no longer the only refuge a person feels they can seek. We would therefore not try to promote awareness of the pro-anorexia sites, but rather promote compassionate understanding of eating disorders in general, concludes Ringwood.
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