Pro Ana Plague

This is the "ABC Diet";  A fifty day starvation method under the guise of a "diet".  The essential theory of the "diet" is based on the concept that calorie shifting is the easiest and fastest means to lose weight. When you reduce your food intake so sudden the idea is that your body shifts into "starvation mode", which is an evolutionary defense mechanism that causes your metabolism to become more efficient in order to cope with the sudden shortage of food. Since calorie intake varies day by day, for example a day of 300 calories followed by a day of 800 calories then a fast, your body assumes it prevents the body from going into starvation mode. Instead, your metabolism anticipates another calorie intake on the fast day, thus your metabolism continues to try to burn any remaining calories.

Obviously this is one of the least healthy ways to diet, however there are these "Pro Ana" diets plaguing the internet. On any blogging site it's not a difficult task to find Pro Ana pages devoted to pictures of hip bones, collar bones, and "Thinspiration" quotes. In my opinion, the internet has made finding things like this dangerously accessible. With just a few touches to the keyboard and the click of a mouse, one is able to find the most efficient way to starve themselves.

Posts such as this one promote a mentality that food is no longer necessary for nourishment, but something destructive and degrading. Years ago the media was blamed for corrupting society's views on how a woman should look; stick thin models and petite celebrities were considered the "bad influences". Now, it's everyone. It's young women blogging from their bedrooms about their weight loss progress, delivering an "If I can do it, so can you" message. I was floored upon reading some of the Pro Ana blogs out there and even more upset by Thinspiration messages such as this one.