It just goes to point up how pernicious a disease anorexia is. I
remember reading something about what they call "pro-ana" sites, whose
URLs are traded among anorectics, where they advocate "the lifestyle".
Apparently, not only do they reinforce resistance to treatment, but
seeing the pictures can trigger relapses in recovering anorectics.

I've only known three in my 48 years, one at a kids camp I worked at
(where she used to swim hundreds of laps daily and in a bathing suit
looked like a concentration camp survivor), one at college (who we used
to call her the Ghost of Mia Farrow) and one at the office who was the
daughter of a manager. The one at the office ended up dying of her
illness despite many hospitalizations and many desperate attempts by
her parents to find treatment for her that would work. The woman at the
office was also a binger/purger and abuser of laxatives, plus an
obsessive exerciser. Coworkers just didn't know what to make of her,
since she was clearly very intelligent, but she looked like the women
in those photos, and wore heavy long sleeved sweaters even on the
hottest days. She had food hidden all over the office.

It must be hugely frustrating for the family to see someone doing that
and not be able to get them to realize they are ill, or get them to
stop.

Mary G.

Maybe exploitation--in its traditional meaning--was the wrong word to use.
This website does a much better job of expressing what I mean:
http://www.gurze.net/site12_5_00/picturesofanorexia.htm

Excerpts:

If however, you are looking for photos that are salacious or sensationalize
eating disorders, we oppose this use of them. These photos are demeaning.
They stereotype and trivialize both the individual photographed and the
scores of unseen sufferers and their families. They are also disrespectful
of professional clinicians and researchers who have devoted their lives to
helping women and men with anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating disorder,
and other related problems.

...

Maybe that's why you found this page. There is nothing titillating about
images of people with these disorders. I've seen pictures in medical books
and even show the slide of a male anorexic in some of my clinical talks.
There's nothing sexy about these photos. They do not record achievement,
only obsessive and potentially deadly behavior.

Students who write papers on eating disorders need to understand the
seriousness of these problems. How would you illustrate a paper on
schizophrenia or claustrophobia? If you write a paper on alcoholism, do you
show photos of people drinking? Are they your loved ones? Individuals with
anorexia nervosa and bulimia are your neighbors, families, and
friends--people working in the stores where you shop and the school you
attend. Please respect them by not showing them.
--
Matthew
185/177/160

I would say that they looked proud to have the kind of bodies that
they had.

I have not seen even one attractive woman on that site.

One has to only wonder how a concern with appearance can drive them to
become so gross looking. Quite unfortunate for them.

All you have to do is look at most actresses. They are for the most
part underweight with many suffering from anorexia. Especially this
week, when they all starve to fit into the designer gowns for the
Oscars. Take a look at all the stars who show up and realize they loko
10-20 pounds heavier on tv.

Martha

The concern with looks is usually only a surface issue. Anorexia is
about control; it occurs often where the woman OR man (happens to both
sexes) has underlying 'out-of-control' issues. Like a history of abuse,
for example.