The parliamentary groups that are part of the Justice Committee of the Congress of Deputies agreed to urge the Government to focus on the protection of minors on the Internet; specifically in response to the spread of websites that promote eating disorders (when not apologizing for them) such as anorexia and bulimia. Those sites are the pages pro Ana (anorexia) and pro Mia (bulimia): apparently two “princess” friends who are there so that girls (and boys) with these eating disorders do not feel alone.
But this 'not feeling alone' does not refer to them receiving support to overcome the illness, since the aforementioned pages urge them to stay in a weight not exceeding 50 kilosas part of the ideal of beauty pursued. At most, the people who are part of such communities (blog administrators and readers/users) They avoid feeling alone and keep each other company. in the struggle not only for perfection but also against those who question them. One of the most striking (and terrible, why not say it) contradictions I find when reading content on this site is the repudiation overweight and obesity, and in a way the stigmatization of the people who suffer them.
Because if, Obesity is considered an epidemic in industrialized countriesAnd with good reason, since population studies have revealed worrying figures: one in four children between the ages of 3 and 12 is overweight or obese. But isn't anorexia harmful? Is it better for a 16-year-old girl to weigh 48 or 90 kilos? Getting lost in discussions of this kind would seem pointless, and besides, we do a disservice to the recovery of both those affected and those affected. Furthermore, in developed countries, A significant proportion of girls between the ages of 12 and 14 suffer from anorexia and/or bulimiaAt least a significant percentage of these patients (there are also children, although in lower percentages) die as a result of the disease. We're talking about lives that still have everything ahead of them..
Knowing eating disorders
I put the points on the "i's": Our society values thinness for its own sake; not a healthy lifestyle. that helps prevent disease, maintain a healthy weight, provide energy, and meet nutritional needs. Eating habits are generally far from adequate, and even less so when it comes to staying thin at any cost.
Major eating disorders
- Anorexia nervosa, characterized by extreme weight lossAlthough those who suffer from it see themselves as 'fat', they ingest very small quantities of certain foods and may even overindulge in them. diuretics or laxatives.
- Bulimia nervosa, whose main characteristic is recurrent episodes of binge eating; continued by forced vomiting or the use of fasting, laxatives, etc., to compensate for the previous behavior.
- Binge eating disorder consists of a lost of control about food, which often leads to overweight or obesity.
Studies have been conducted worldwide—and one of the leading organizations is the American Psychiatric Association with the DSM-5—which show how the age of onset has decreased to increasingly earlier stages. There are no single causes, and health professionals agree that One is not born anorexic: one becomes one.With factors that promote and reinforce these diseases, we focus on the environment understood as a set of stimuli (often inappropriate), within which the blogs/pages referred to in this post are included.
Pro Ana - Pro Mia, lifestyles?
Ana and Mia are not real people, but rather the way of naming “pro” TCA websitesThey usually warn that they do not encourage the practices detailed, and even go so far as to invite anyone who disagrees to leave. In practice, they do condone anorexia (Ana) and bulimia (Mia), but they disguise it as overcoming challenges, enthusiasm, and belonging. It's nothing more than a way of self-destructing., and it's very difficult to understand through reasoning.
There is no single formula, but the contents combine tips for concealing behavioror to avoid eating even when it's mealtime and you're hungry, recipes are given, and the colors of the bracelets to wear during the meetups are also shown (red for Ana, purple for Mia). In the most aberrant cases, references to self-harm are included. If a girl arriving at the gates of this perverse world is a "Wannabe" (wants to be initiated), the breeding ground is served, and unfortunately this is not science fiction, but something that happens in real life.
Instead of achieving the Healing through emotional control and acceptance (Not easy, but not impossible either), they resort to a place where they can gain the necessary acceptance, because in Ana and Mia's world there is freedom of expression. But of course, lost in that supposed freedom, the girls and teenagers who come attracted by the fairy tales forget that have critical sense And they should apply it, asking themselves first: who is the person behind this page? Is it a girl with anorexia like me but happier, or does it respond to 'who knows' what interests?
Read below: “Welcome. This is a blog for those who are looking for a dream and feel misunderstood, tired of everyone coming to tell them 'don't do that, you're killing yourself, happiness does not reside in the physical' and such nonsense "If you add to that aspirational images And with an immersive aesthetic, it's clear that drastically reducing calorie intake can be "motivating"; unless the reader believes they can trust certain information, and values other aspects beyond thinness or languor.
Sick princesses
"Being a princess is not easy""It's easy," reads a phrase on one of these blogs; "Of course! How could it be easy?" stay under 50 kilosBut there are other ways to overcome challenges, that's for sure, and many of them don't involve risks.
They are certainly far removed from what is natural… I am just as capable of fighting to reduce childhood obesity as I am of making people understand that (the so-called “princesses”) Ana and Mia They can destroy the health of many girls who arrive at blogs without any criteria, and certainly the stability of their families.
In this entry of Acme Psychology and Coaching, found this list of 'commandments', taken in turn from one of the pages, which I refuse to reference:
- If you're not thin You're not attractive.
- To be thin is the most important thing.
- Buy the right clothes, get a haircut, take laxatives, starve to deathAnything to look thinner.
- You will not eat without feeling guilty.
- You will not eat fattening food without punish you after.
- You will tell Calories and you will limit your meals accordingly.
- The designs of the weighing machine They are the only ones and the most important ones.
- Losing weight is good. Gaining weight is bad.
- Never She is thin enough.
- Being thin and not eating proves the authentic willpower and the level of success.
As you can see, and without the intention of generalizing, For these girls, the important thing is "to be thin"It's not about being cultured, achieving academic success, traveling, improving your musical skills, or enjoying spending time with friends. It's not important to be young and have smooth skin, but neither is it about accepting that time will pass and your body will change. You will continue to feel good.
And although this that I have just exposed is very subjective, I would like to say that I have read a few experiences of girls who have gone through Ana and Mia: To some they are misunderstood, to others crazy or sick… The internet can be a wonderful place, except that (unlike in offline life) the boundaries are very blurred; it seems as if the worst in us comes to the surface too easily.
And it is precisely in that life outside the network where the health and social system has made provisions instruments that are useful: such as individual and group therapies, in which those affected can meet without codes, without bracelets, and without fear, but with desire to get ahead instead of continuing to lie.
And of course, it would be desirable for the public authorities to accompany us, regulating, conducting campaigns, supervising advertising directed at minors, etc.
As a psychologist who comments on the entry linked before says: "Do not catch us blindfolded, to help you have to be able and want to see this harsh reality"The problem is precisely that many times we don't want to see this reality, or we are so busy with our own affairs that we are unable to detect the need for care and suffering.
Images - merlymeleanrossana (second) and Princess Lorelei (third)
More information - Protect them.
What does the latest scientific evidence say?
International research has analyzed the pro-ana and pro-mia phenomenon from multiple angles. The findings are consistentExposure to this content is associated with worse body image, higher eating psychopathology and reduction of desired weight. Reviews and meta-analyses have shown that interaction with these communities on the web and social networks worsens symptoms in adolescents and young people, while raising barriers to access to treatment because stigma, ignorance and minimization of the problem.
Longitudinal studies on digital platforms have observed that, over time, active users in pro-addiction communities tend to set lower weight goals Control practices are already being intensified. At the same time, content analysis on websites and forums reveals internal regulations that appear to be "careful" but are actually They normalize risky behaviors under the guise of personal effort, purity, or success.
On the other hand, the conversation on social media between pro-ana and pro-recovery communitiesWhile the former overuse aspirational slogans and language of self-demandthe latter promote self-care, seeking help and body acceptance. The most studied platforms include Twitter, Tumblr, TikTok and Redditwith different dynamics: in some, images and micro-videos predominate, in others, support threads that can perpetuate the disease through the peer validation.
The role of the health misinformation on social media. Systematic reviews confirm a high prevalence of misleading or low-quality messages about eating disorders. Assessments of web readability and quality They indicate that many online resources on anorexia nervosa are difficult to understand or lack reliabilityThis makes it difficult for families and teenagers to access appropriate guidance.
How they operate on social media: aesthetics, hashtags, and evading moderation
Pro-ana and pro-mia content has shifted from blogs and forums to high visual impact social mediaExplicit tags are used (#proana, #thinspo) and also covert codes to circumvent moderation. When tags are blocked, “glosses” or neologisms emerge that mimic innocuous terms, hindering the response from platforms and families. The dominant aesthetic is the extreme thinness, with metaphors of lightness, purity and control, and a rhetoric of resistance which presents Ana and Mia as empowered identities facing a world that “does not understand”.
Qualitative literature has documented how some users reconfigure language to sacralize thinness (with religious metaphors) or to give meaning to the illness as personal projectAt the community level, relationships are observed of friendship and complicityinternal rules for building consensus and pressure mechanisms that reinforce permanence within the group. At the same time, research with former members describes processes of unhook: cracks that appear when the content no longer relieves discomfort, the body suffers, or the desire to recover social life arises.
Clinical risks, comorbidities, and warning signs
Eating disorders rarely occur in isolation. Clinical evidence shows a high co-occurrence with anxiety, depression, personality disorders and, in some cases, self-harm. Certain publications have documented the presence of self-harm ideation among young people hospitalized for eating disorders, which underlines the need for early detection and comprehensive approaches. In this context, the pro-ana/pro-mia communities amplify the risk by normalizing restriction and trivializing pain.
Common warning signs that families and educators may look out for include: obsessive preoccupation with weight, strict portion and calorie control, hidden use of counting applications or extreme activity monitoring, avoiding eating in public, repeated visits to the bathroom after meals, sudden mood swingssocial isolation and discourse of body self-loathingThe simultaneous appearance of several signals justifies the search for professional orientation.
Evidence-based prevention: school, family and community
Effective prevention of eating disorders relies on programs universal and integrated that promote healthy habits and positive body image without focusing on weight. Physical education interventions that integrate nutrition, physical activity and critical thinking about the media have shown promise in primary school. In secondary school, programs that combine media literacysocio-emotional skills and family involvement tend to reduce risk factors.
In the university setting, reviews and meta-analyses have identified that digital prevention interventions (e.g., online modules) can decrease body dissatisfaction and maladaptive attitudes, especially when adapted to individual risksAt a broader community level, working on Body self-esteem and the enjoyment of movement —not weight control— and reinforce positive role models Body diversity contributes to building resilience against harmful messages.
Every intervention must take into account the ethical, legal and social impacts: avoid the “boomerang” effect (prevention sparking curiosity), be careful with language so as not to stigmatize and protect privacy of the students. school-family-health collaboration It optimizes outcomes and facilitates early referrals.
Media literacy and critical thinking in the age of microvideos
Research on content in microvideos They show that the accuracy of information on social media is disappear And user engagement is often driven by aesthetics and emotions rather than informational quality. Even the anti-pro-ana videos Through repeated exposure, they can inadvertently help spread ideas or images that were intended to be combated. Therefore, media literacy programs must train teenagers and families to identify signs of disinformation, distinguish unverifiable testimonies And apply quick checkups of credibility.
Evaluations with quality tools (such as DISCERN) and readability studies recommend that serious resources on eating disorders Use clear languageInclude sources and offer ways to Professional Help. In turn, the hashtag phenomenon It has shown that pro-ana communities migrate and relabel content to circumvent filters: it is key to teach them look for indirect signs (e.g., visual codes, recurring emojis) and encourage that denounce harmful content.
Legal framework and responsibility of platforms and intermediaries
In addition to state and European initiatives, measures have been implemented at the regional level to curb the promotion of eating disorders online and on social media. The Parliament of Catalonia approved a Decree law that modifies the Consumer Code to take action against these pages, the result of the work of the Dialogue Table for the Prevention of Eating Disorders co-led by the Catalan Consumer Agency and the Association Against Anorexia and Bulimia.
This modification allows monitor, investigate and punish to companies, platforms and digital services that, despite knowing The existence of this type of content in their spaces, and failure to act diligently to remove it. Responsibility is extended to intermediaries (e.g., hosting providers) who, knowing the illegality or lack of veracity of the information, fail to promptly remove data or prevent access. This non-compliance is classified as Serious offense with fines that can reach high amounts.
The modifications to the Consumer Code of Catalonia also: define “Eating disorder” for consumption purposes (including anorexia and bulimia); they incorporate people susceptible to eating disorders as a specially protected group; they introduce the duty not to to promote goods or services that induce unhealthy habits; they typify the promotion of eating disorder-related habits as a serious offense, and establish that those who cooperate or cover it up Infringing conduct (platforms, online services) will be held liable if they do not adopt necessary measures to remove links or content. Additionally, they have begun to be imposed sanctions to companies for promoting anorexia on social media.
The glorification of anorexia and bulimia on the internet
On what types of websites is anorexia and bulimia promoted?
On all kinds of pages, from blogs, forums, chats, social media profiles, websites and mobile applicationsAccess is possible from any device with an internet connection (computer, mobile phone, tablet, etc.).
Who creates these pages?
Most commonly, behind these pages we find people affected by eating disordersas are many of the users who interact in these spaces. A significant proportion are young girlsOften minors, who either suffer from an eating disorder or are at risk of developing one. There are also males and adults.
What content is on these pages?
They present dangerous content. From sharing “tricks” to hiding the disease to parents and friends, even encouraging each other to lose weight or holding "weight loss races" (competitions to see who loses the most). They often hang up Images of extreme thinness and the tone of the messages tends to be negative towards oneselfinciting self-punishment through harmful behaviors and a discourse of bodily contempt.
How can you remove a website that promotes anorexia and bulimia?
The regulatory framework for consumer affairs in Catalonia empowers the Administration to monitor, investigate and punish to companies, platforms, and digital services that, knowing of the existence of content that promotes eating disorders, fail to take removal measures. The responsibility to intermediaries (e.g., hosting services) from the moment that know or may know The illegality and failure to act with due diligence. The violations may entail significant fines.
What do the modifications to the Consumer Code of Catalonia allow?
They finalize the definition of eating disorder for consumption purposes; they include people likely to suffer them as a specially protected group; they force companies not promote unhealthy habitsThey classify the promotion of eating disorder-related habits as a serious offense; and extend the responsibility to intermediaries who do not remove illicit content once they are aware of its existence.
How can we educate our children and students on the proper use of the Internet?
The Dialogue Table for the prevention of eating disorders has created guidelines with key recommendations: active accompaniment for adults, promotion of critical thinking and the positive body imagereasonable control of screen time, joint review of Privacy settings, practice of dialogue without judgment and signage for support resources. These guidelines are aimed at protect the youngest of the risks of advocating for eating disorders.
In this context, it was reported that First sanction in Catalonia against a company for promoting anorexia on social media. The Catalan Consumer Agency declared that it will continue to take action against companies that promote attitudes against public health. This type of action represents a progress in raising awareness institutional and social damage caused by these pages.
From these pro-disease spaces, an attempt is made to create a community of affected people by eating disorders who, faced with emotional suffering or relationship problems, present eating symptoms and group membership as a "solution"The message is primarily directed at adolescents and young people at risk or already affected. “Tricks” for losing weight are shared and hiding the problems to the family, in addition to messages from high demands and punishment that foster a negative self-image. It is a false promiseThat path leads nowhere; it only leads to more suffering and confusion.
It is crucial to approach these pages from a legal, educational and health frameworkAt the prevention level, it is advisable to help students, children, and patients develop a critical look in response to messages on social media. To intervene, one must understand the inner world and the context (physical and virtual) of our children and young people. Understanding this makes it easier to detect alarm signals that indicate the onset of a psychological disorder. early detection and the search for specialized help improve the forecast.
User experiences: identity, resilience, and disengagement
Sociological and anthropological literature on pro-ana communities describes collective identities that combine emotional support with self-destructivenessThese are “emotional communities” where things are shared metaphors of the self (“lightness,” “purity,” “control”) and internal rules are negotiated: who deserves to belong, how “success” is measured, what content is acceptable. This framework can be experienced as empowerment and resistance to the “obese” or “uncomprehending” world, when in reality it intensifies the dependence of the disorder.
Some research shows that, over time, they appear narrative fracturesThe body doesn't respond, fatigue accumulates, and isolation weighs more than validation. Former users describe "cutting ties" as a non-linear process where new support links (family, therapists, friends not involved in eating disorders) and access to pro-recovery resources facilitate distancing and reconstruction of identity beyond weight.
Technology and digital health: risks and opportunities
Technology is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, counting apps or fitness tracking They are frequently mentioned in online eating disorder communities and can reinforce the obsessive controlOn the other hand, controlled trials have shown that targeted ads search engines and networks can redirect users who seek pro-ana content towards help resources and treatment. They are also proliferating digital programs prevention and recovery support with encouraging results when they include psychoeducation, monitoring and access to professionals.
Regarding online health content, international reviews warn: much information about eating disorders presents low quality and poor legibility. Therefore, families should prioritize reliable sources (patient associations, health organizations, scientific societies) and distrust of unverified testimonies with miracle promises.
Practical recommendations for families and educators
- Speak up and without taboos: naturally discusses body diversity, respect for the body, and the role of food as energy and carenot as a reward or punishment.
- Digital co-consumption: accompanies the use of networks, learns their the language and negotiate times and spaces Without screens. Review together the privacy and the reporting of harmful content.
- Train your critical thinkingWhen faced with a video or post, ask yourself, "Who is saying this?", "What do they gain?", "What source are they citing?", "How does it make me feel?"; identify signs of manipulation (absolute promises, extreme comparisons), and reinforces the self-care.
- Strengthen healthy habits: regular family meals, enjoyable physical activity (non-punitive), sufficient sleep and routines that take care of emotional well-being.
- Detect and act earlyIf you notice any warning signs, look for professional orientation (family doctor, clinical psychologist, nutritionist specializing in eating disorders). Early intervention improves the forecast.
Educational centers can integrate curricular contents on media and body, training teachers in detection and establish protocols for derivationAt the classroom level, work conflict resolution, emotional regulation y empathy as well as It reduces the fertile ground for harmful comparisons and bullying.
Quick FAQ
- Do bans work? They are useful when there is clear damage and platform responsibility. They must be accompanied by education. and resources of helps.
- Is it possible to talk about eating disorders at home? If with respectful languageAvoid focusing on weight, prioritize emotions and self-care behaviors.
- What do I do if I find pro-ana content? Do not interact With the post, report it on the platform and, if it affects someone close to you, seek professional help.
- Are online recovery resources useful? They can be useful if they are backed by professionals and complement in-person care.
The pro-ana and pro-mia phenomenon is not a simple “debate” about lifestyles, but a complex reality where culture, technology, mental health, and social dynamics intersect. Moving forward requires balanced regulation, evidence-based education, and support with empathy and firmness to children and families. If you feel that you or someone you know is at risk, talking to a mental health professional can be a crucial first step. restore well-being.