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Pro-anorexia, weight-loss drugs and the internet: an ‘anti-recovery’ explanatory model of anorexia.
- Source :
-
Sociology of Health & Illness . Nov2005, Vol. 27 Issue 7, p944-971. 28p. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- This paper explores the online ‘pro-anorexia’ underground, a movement that supports those with anorexia and adopts an ‘anti-recovery’ perspective on the disease. While encouraging a ‘healthy’ diet to sustain an anorexic way-of-life, the movement also recommends the radical use of weight-loss pharmaceuticals to pursue and maintain low body weight, in contrast to their conventional use to treat obesity. Using ethnographic and interview data collected from participants in the ‘ Anagrrl’ website and online forum, we analyse the pro-anorexia (or ‘pro-ana’) movement in terms of its underlying ‘explanatory model’ of the disease, and contrast it with medical, psychosocial, sociocultural and feminist models that encourage a ‘normalisation’ of body shape and weight. We suggest that for participants in pro-ana, anorexia represents stability and control, and Anagrrl offers support and guidance for those who wish to remain in this ‘sanctuary’. We discuss the pro-anorexia movement's use of the internet to facilitate resistance to medical and social theories of disease, and its subversion of pharmaceutical technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01419889
- Volume :
- 27
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Sociology of Health & Illness
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18942809
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2005.00465.x