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Thinspiration uses images to inspire weight loss, but can be dangerous for those with eating disorders. The internet is a common source, with websites promoting extreme behaviors. Parents should monitor children’s computer usage.
Thinspiration is a term that refers to the use of images to inspire weight loss. Typically, the person trying to lose weight will use pictures of someone of the desired size as a reminder of their goal. When the goal is a healthy weight, this practice can be a valuable tool; however, if the person has an eating disorder, the images used may show unachievable or dangerous levels of unrealistic thinness. The Internet has become a common source of Thinspiration images, especially on weight loss websites and those that promote eating disorders such as anorexia.
The term thinspiration comes from combining two words: inspiration and thin. It means using images of others, often models or celebrities, to inspire weight loss. This may include the use of images or videos of people who are a healthy weight and extremely thin people. It can even include the use of images of people who are obese as a sort of “scare tactic” or as a reminder of how those who are trying to lose weight don’t want to appear.
The images used generally represent the dieter’s desired target weight. The images are typically used to inspire the dieter to persist in continued weight loss efforts and as a reminder of the intended goal. If the goal is a healthy weight, that will be reflected in the images used as Thinspiration. This can be a useful tool combined with a carefully selected healthy diet and exercise program to help people lose weight and improve their overall fitness.
In some cases, people have unhealthy weight loss goals and behaviors known as eating disorders. Two of the most common are anorexia nervosa and bulimia, which most often affect adolescents and young women, but are also seen in older women, as well as girls and boys. Usually, when people have an eating disorder, their goals are extremely unrealistic, often dangerous levels of thinness. In these cases, Thinspiration images show individuals who often appear scrawny and emaciated. Sometimes the images accurately show the weight of the model, but other times they are altered to make the subject appear even thinner.
There are many potential sources of images for inspiration, for example, magazines, television, and the Internet. As the popularity of the Internet continues to rise, there continues to be a tremendous increase in websites dedicated to weight loss, including those that promote eating disorders known as pro-ana, pro-mia, or pro-ed. These websites often combine weight loss tips and tricks with images of Thinspiration, in many cases promoting the extreme behaviors associated with disordered eating, such as dangerously low calorie intake and vomiting. Parents are advised to monitor their children’s computer usage, as exposure to these websites can have a dangerous influence on susceptible youth.
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