Pro-Anorexia Websites: Content, Impact, and Explanations of Popularity

The increasing prevalence of anorexia nervosa is a major concern in contemporary society. Anorexia has been linked to forms of media such as television, and examined in relation to Internet-based methods of treatment. However, research about Internet sites actively promoting anorexia, known as ‘pro-ana sites’, is minimal. This literature review amassed articles about pro-ana sites, using psychology databases such as Medline and PsycINFO. The sites’ content was analyzed for components such as drug recommendations, ‘thinspiration,’ chat-rooms, site-creator information, and disclaimers. Patterns in content were also examined, and possible explanations for the sites’ popularity offered. An analytical overview of all the sites included in this review suggested that they were more effective in fulfilling the users’ need for a sense of community than they were in establishing any kind of comprehensive ‘pro-ana’ philosophy. Future research can explore the techniques by which these sites exploit that need for community, and apply them to online forms of treatment.