Overview: Onset is usually between 14 and 17, and affects females 100% of the time over males. Wannarexia is NOT the life-threatening disorder, it is the
self-diagnosed illness these young women commonly give themselves when they are wanting to lose some weight quickly, and very desperate in their search for attention and sympathy. They will refer to their new friend (or 'diet') as 'ana', giving a cutesy nickname to try and appear as though they fit into the cultural breed of fakers. They spend money on starbucks like it was calorie-free. But, usually, they will 'recover', or just forget, as soon as they've lost the 5 or 10 pounds before prom.
Warning signs: warning signs may include extremely low
comprehension level, joining pro-ana communities, showing sudden interest in MaryKate Olsen, and using sayings like 'stay strong' or 'ana luv' or 'WWMKD?' (what would mary kate do). They will wear their fake disease proudly on their wrist in the form of a red string bracelet, and have a fear of
getting fat, although they are blind to their already prominent handles and rolls. They will take pictures of themselves contorted at strange angles and sucking in their stomache to try and prove that yes, they are really anorexic, and post these on their pro-ana boards; and truly
believe that anorexia is a lifestyle choice, not a disease.
Treatment: No treatment is possible to convince people suffering from wannarexia that they are not anorexic, unless the treatment includes brain
replacement.
Girl: "omigod i didnt eat today and now i way 72 pounds,
stay strong ana luv!"
OR:
Girl: "i will be like marykate. ana luvs u guys, stay strong girlies! think thin! thin is in! you can never be too rich or too thin! yay!"
OR:
Girl 1: "This girl just told me she was anorexic, and might be
hospitalized.. She doesn't look skinny at all though?"
Girl 2: "That girl just has wannarexia. She wears a size 0 and pretends that it fits, though she can't do up the zipper, and drinks a few venti starbucks
frappucino with extra caramel every day. What a loser."