There is a disturbing trend toward the popularity of eating disorders.
Groups, forums and sites have been built to support eating illnesses as though they are a cultural choice instead of an evil disorder.
"Pro-Ana" (pro-anorexia) and "Pro Mia" (pro-bulimia) is all over the internet, wanting to hold the hand of starving people and help them keep the will power to starve.
It is a scary thought, but it is out there.
Why do such places exist, anyway? Who in their right mind would think it is okay to promote a disease as if it were a good thing instead of a bad thing? It doesn't matter how little sense it makes.
What matters is that they do exist and they are causing harm to hundreds, if not thousands of people just by keeping them from seeking treatment.
One of the oddest elements of these support groups is the tendency to refer to anorexia and bulimia in a personified way.
I suppose it makes it seem less of a sickness and more of a feminine past-time.
One of the biggest dangers of pro-eating disorder groups is that they make anorexia and bulimia out to be a good idea.
They don't encourage people to get help for the problem.
Instead, they advocate starvation, vomiting, the use of laxatives, and over-exercising.
When impressionable minds see it as a choice instead of a sickness, they can then "rebel" against the status quo without feeling there is anything about which they should be afraid.
If you have an eating disorder and have been associating with the types of groups talked about here, please take a step back and realize that you don't have to starve to be a beautiful person and people who really care about you want you to live and be healthy.
You may think this is your choice.
It isn't.
The only real choice you have is whether or not you are going to die of an eating disorder or fight it and live.
Saying you are pro-eating disorder is nearly as bad as saying you are pro-cancer.
Both of these can kill you.