The government established the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) in September last year, acting on recommendations made by professor Tanya Byron in her report Safer Children in a Digital World. But in a position paper published today, the Royal College of Psychiatrists has criticised the council for not specifically addressing websites promoting anorexia and bulimia, which the college claims are becoming increasingly popular.
Professor Schmidt, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Eating Disorders Section, said: "Pro-ana and pro-mia websites advocate anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa as a lifestyle choice, rather than as serious mental disorders. Research shows that, even for healthy young women, viewing such websites induces low mood, low self-esteem and increased body dissatisfaction."
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