Document Detail


Pro-anorexia, weight-loss drugs and the internet: an "anti-recovery" explanatory model of anorexia.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16313524     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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.
Authors:
Nick Fox; Katie Ward; Alan O'Rourke
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Sociology of health & illness     Volume:  27     ISSN:  0141-9889     ISO Abbreviation:  Sociol Health Illn     Publication Date:  2005 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-11-29     Completed Date:  2006-03-03     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8205036     Medline TA:  Sociol Health Illn     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  944-71     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 30 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. n.j.fox@shef.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Anorexia / chemically induced,  ethnology,  psychology*
Anti-Obesity Agents / administration & dosage*
Attitude to Health / ethnology*
Female
Humans
Internet*
Interviews as Topic
Male
Models, Psychological*
Motivation
Narration
Personal Satisfaction
Self Concept
Social Support*
Sociology, Medical
User-Computer Interface
Weight Loss / drug effects*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Obesity Agents

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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