Yes, it's a provocative thought. "Pro-ana nation," the collective group of those who believe that eating disorders are positive, certainly has views that many of us would find odd. But a cult? It seems a bit over the top: After all, some telltale signs of a cult aren't there. There's no clear organization for those with pro-ana views, no exalted leader who dictates what those who are pro-ana or pro-mia must do.
On the other hand, there are some troubling similarities between subscribers to the pro-ana view and cults. For example, cults seem like the only options for life to those who are involved. Leaving a cult can feel like an incredible loss. There is a sense of feeling special, even "chosen," that is often present. All these exist for those with eating disorders -- anorexia nervosa in particular.
Deciding whether the pro-ana community is a cult or not won't make the sites go away. But it's instructive to understand what it costs a person to enter that community, and also what it costs to get out.
A rare (so far) study of the behavior of those who go to pro-ana web sites investigated in depth why people view them and what they do while they're there. The mix of responses leads me to wonder whether the sites serve as a group of cult-like destinations.
Nearly 20% of respondents said that they found the pro-ana sites harmful -- that they encouraged stressful competition and led to lower self-esteem. The same is true of cults, in general. Some within every cult recognize the harm that occurs. Only some of those who see, however, actually leave.
But most found the pro-ana sites helpful. These fell into two groups. The smaller group (17%) admitted that the sites helped them to continue their disordered eating. While this subgroup found the sites "helpful," it’s clear that these visitors were being harmed: Eating disorders are clearly harmful. Again, bizarre (and sometimes dangerous or abusive) behaviors are common in cults, and some who practice them consider them somehow "helpful."
That leaves the only group that seems truly to benefit from pro-ana sites. The larger group of those who found the sites helpful (43%) said that the key benefit is emotional support. Visitors to pro-ana sites who participated more in chat rooms and forums generally felt more supported emotionally.
The authors suggested that this support may represent a benefit that those in the mental health field do not acknowledge. But is this brand of emotional support beneficial to this particular population? Unfortunately, there are strong reasons to believe that it isn't.
A key reason that pro-ana and pro-mia sites are attractive is that those with eating disorders do not easily develop relationships with others. They may have at previous times, but eating disorders tend to create isolation. Going to a pro-ana site reminds a person that she is not alone: Others know the emotions and can be "with" her as she makes choices. Since many don't understand much about eating disorders, there is relief in grouping with those who do.
Understanding this, operators of pro-ana sites provide discussion forums and chat rooms (much as this site does). Members provide encouragement to each other, whether it be emotional support or "accountability" to continue disordered eating behaviors.
But while many keep coming back to these sites for support, it's a support that doesn't promote emotional growth. True support enables a person to explore the world and to make hard decisions. A well-supported person feels comfortable in establishing new friendships from many places as well as maintaining the current friendships. Pro-eating disorder site visitors tend to turn more and more inward, shrinking their circles of friends. The result is that "pro-ana nation" becomes the only acceptable social outlet. Meanwhile, the exposure to disordered eating habits deepens. This is yet another red flag: Separation from past relationships, as well as past interests and pursuits, is typical of cults.
