Anorexia and bulimia are very serious disorders—both mentally and physically. I’ve always felt such sorrow when I heard of girls who suffered from them—boys, too; males are increasingly becoming bulimic and anorexic in our society—and especially when I heard about the long-term complications and deaths that resulted from the illnesses.

What I could never understand, however, are those pro-anorexia and bulimia sites, often known as “Ana” and “Mia.” The people who subscribe to these groups claim that the diseases are not diseases, but lifestyle choices. I understand that people with these disorders feel a need to control their environments—and, particularly, their bodies—but this cannot truly be a lifestyle choice, can it? Is obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, or any other mental illness considered to be a lifestyle choice as well? It’s true that plenty of lifestyle choices cause harm; anything from drug use to sleeping with many partners to drinking excessively can hurt or kill a person. But it seems like these conditions aren’t actual choices being made.

I’m definitely not an expert, so all I can comment on is what I’ve read and my own opinion. When I see those “pro-Mia” and “pro-Ana” sites, however, I can’t help but feel outraged. What these people need—again, in my opinion, which is based on some reading and research I’ve done on the subject for college and not much else—is support of a different kind; they need body image support, a way to love themselves, and to be around people who set a healthy example by eating well and showing that food is nourishing, not something to be avoided. They also need some kind of help professionally, right? A therapist, a doctor (especially if their symptoms are life-threatening), or someone trained in this field would be needed to really help men and women get past the disease and live in healthy bodies.

Do you think that anorexia and bulimia are not diseases, but lifestyle choices? To me, that’s a scary concept—but like I said, without being an expert, I can’t say with certainty that I know they’re one thing or another. All I know is what the medical community agrees upon, and though I don’t always agree with the status quo, I do in this case.

Recently, a new sort of Ana/Mia site has emerged. Called Beyond Ana and Mia, it is a place that purportedly provides “support for those struggling with eating disorders.” The site is actually a project that began in a college setting, and is based on the premise that pro-Ana and pro-Mia sites do serve a healthy purpose. Citing research that supports the sites’ beneficial use, Beyond Ana and Mia was designed to be a healthier outlet for those seeking support and understanding. It’s a very interesting concept, and I think that troubled people who are seeking such an outlet may benefit from this much more than the other potentially harmful sites out there.