Thinspiration

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. (help, get involved!)
Any material not supported by sources may be challenged and removed at any time. This article has been tagged since August 2006.

Thinspiration (a portmanteau of thin and inspiration) is a term that refers to a role model used by people (typically individuals with eating disorders) to inspire them to lose weight. It's most common in the pro-ana community, but not confined to it.

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

Among the common "thinspirations" are Nicole Richie, Mary Kate Olsen, Kate Moss, Calista Flockhart, and various runway models such as Vlada Roslyakova, Natasha Poly, Jeisa Chiminazzo, Tiiu Kuik, Hana Soukupova and Snejana Onopka. In addition, some people use images of extremely emaciated anorexics, for example, Bony Pink.

Photos of the thinspirations are common on pro-ana websites. "Negative thinspiration" (also called reverse triggers) is sometimes used to describe photos of extremely obese people, that may also inspire people to diet.

Thinspiration is becoming extremely popular within the online community, especially with blogging sites such as Xanga and Livejournal. These websites offer communities and groups that post pictures of thin people that will be used for the purpose of starving/losing weight.