Behavior: Eating Disorders and Online Information and Treatment

Eating disorders are increasingly diagnosed, and the business of treating them has mushroomed. Technology is part of everyone’s lives today, and online communication about eating disorders — is also widely available and growing each day.

The problem with online eating disorder communication on the internet is that it can be unsupervised and less controlled than an in patient program or even a one on one person to person, face to face program. Eating disorders are often triggered by different images, emotions, behaviors, or discussions. These triggers on the internet are all over the place for people suffering from eating disorders. In fact, there are even pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia websites!

Technology is wonderful, but if a person has an eating disorder, it’s car needs to be taken seriously, and a controlled environment or medical program to help heal the victim of the disorder, is what’s best.