Thinspiration

Thinspiration (a portmanteau of thin and inspiration) is a term that refers to a role model used by people (often individuals with eating disorders) to inspire them to lose weight. The term (sometimes shortened as "thinspo") is most common in the pro-ana or pro-mia communitys.

Typically the thinspiration is a very thin female, usually a well known actress or a model, particularly one who successfully lost weight, or is known or rumored to have (or have had) an eating disorder.

Thinspiration is displayed through pictures and, more recently, YouTube videos made by pro-Ana supporters. These videos are often a series of pictures of thin, often emaciated, girls backed up by a “thinspirational song” such as "Paper Bag" by Fiona Apple or "Courage" by Superchick. Celebrities co-opted as thinspirational role models, such as Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, often are the subjects of "before" and "after" weight loss videos.

"Negative thinspiration" (also called a reverse trigger) is sometimes used to describe photos of obese people. An eating disordered individual projects his/ her feelings of self-disgust, in response to perceived "fatness" and the "weakness" of hunger, onto the overweight person pictured, effectively reinforcing the importance of starvation.

Blogging sites such as Xanga and Livejournal offer communities and groups that post pictures of thin people that will be used for the purpose of starving.

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