The Right Kind Of Web Support Could Help With Eating Disorders

A 16 year old in the USA has suffered from just about every eating disorder imaginable, including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder. After completing almost four months of an intensive schedule of residential, day and evening treatment groups over a year ago, she has cut back to fewer therapy sessions, but her symptoms, binge eating and sometimes forcing herself to throw up, continue.

While she no longer receives support through group therapy, the young woman visits online forums that promote recovery. “I like to talk to other people who understand exactly what I’m talking about,” she wrote in an e-mail.

Online communication, focused on encouraging recovery instead of promoting eating disorders as a lifestyle choice, could model the group treatment experience that has helped her and others feel less alone.

A study at the University of Leipzig in Germany has analysed postings on a pro-recovery bulimia forum. The researchers found that the majority of discussions focused on recovery in a way that could serve a function similar to the face-to-face self-help groups that are a common component of treatment for eating disorder patients.

Almost 80 percent of the forum’s discussions were “problem-oriented threads,” where one user posted a question related to the disorder, her emotions or where to get help and other users responded. Forty-three percent of the posts were created between 11 p.m. and 4:59 a.m., when users would be most isolated and without other support.

Take a look at 100% Forum where there is a facility to set up support groups to enable individuals to come together to discuss those issues which affect your day to day life.

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