Article by: Rumer Certeza
Photo: Jupiter Images 

Chat rooms used to be a safe venue for users to communicate with friends and loved ones, but that's history.

Now that technological advances have been made available with regards to the internet, experts have given out a warning to parents of certain risks lurking in chat rooms and other similar spots. It was typical that the purpose of such warnings were to make parents aware of issues concerning kiddie porn to outright child abduction, rape and sexual deviance.

Yet a new study has surfaced regarding offenders which parents should take great note of, and they have absolutely nothing to do with pornography. These sites are are commited instead, to promoting and encouraging eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.

The nature of these sites is that they are either pro-ana or pro mia, meaning that ana stands for anorexia while mia encourages bulimia (ABC).

According to researchers from John Hopkins and Stanford, the information provided by these sites on eating disorders are troubling and altogether inaccurate, like for instance poetic reflections known as "Thinspirations" and other artistic expressions, including pictures of obscenely thin models. More alarming is that information on how to continue an anorexic or bulimic lifestyle is also shared with users who visit the sites.

Researchers indicate that the problem is that emotionally troubled young women are discovering a certain connection with other young women who share the same state. And according to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated disorders, results can be deadly, with an estimated 5-10% of those stricken with anorexia or bulimia will die within a 10 years of the desease becoming active.

The Association, which is the oldest non-profit organization is dedicated to assisting those with eating disorders, providing essential information on how they can seek treatment and ultimate recovery from the desease, a huge contrast to the agency's counterparts.