Disturbing Online Secret Society Embraces AnorexiaThe Plus Size Advocate

Posted by: Gen V. Caracena

The University of Cincinnati communication researchers revealed about a new secret society or support group that promotes anorexia on the internet.

Members of the society embraces anorexia as a habit or choice rather than acknowledging it as an illness. Experts fear that the emergence of Online Negative Enabling Support Group that promotes extreme anorexia to teenagers hinders recovery from this serious problem, and even encourages anorexics to embrace their habit.

Lead author Stephen M. Haas, an associate professor of communication at the University of Cincinnati, says the movement uses several communication strategies to encourage anorexics. They include:

“The ONESG pro-anorexia movement reflects four themes and uses several communication strategies to encourage anorexics to embrace their harmful and dangerous impulses, writes lead author Stephen M. Haas, a UC associate professor of communication. The themes are:

Staying “true” to the anorexia movement – Forums and blogs invite members to discuss eating, binging and exercising, an “online confessional” of sorts where members can confess their guilt if they feel they have eaten too much or have not exercised enough to stay inline with the movement.
Promoting self-loathing strategies – Websites encourage communications that not only involving loathing of the physical body, but also of one’s inner being in confessing feelings of worthlessness and weakness. These negative rants are embraced by other visitors – a communication technique the authors say is unique to this community. Messages are accepted and not contradicted, building a shared identity in acknowledging each others’ failures.
Pro-anorexia advising – The two most common forms of advice involve dieting and dealing with confrontations from non-anorexics, such as family members who try to encourage healthy eating.
Pro-anorexia encouragement – The fourth communication theme uncovered in these social networks involves encouragement. This can involve affectionate messages that foster group intimacy, offer tips and techniques to encourage anorexic behavior, and form a barrier against the disapproval of non-anorexic “outsiders.”

The report about this emerging Online Negative Enabling Support Group (ONESG) surrounding pro-anorexia movement was published in the current issue of the journal, New Media and Society.