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."