More Women Using Social Networking Site Pinterest To Feed Eating Disorders

LOS ANGELES (CBS) Its one of the most popular and fastest growing social networking sites online but some women are using Pinterest to feed their eating disorders.

Pinterest, a self-described online pinboard, is popular with women, who pin pictures of their favorite fashion and food items, wedding ideas and lifestyle concepts. The site is the third most popular social networking site, following Facebook and Twitter, according to Forbes magazine.

Nadine Bivens, who teaches Zumba at Body Rush in Studio City, said Pinterest helps her stay on track with fitness.

Its nice to have an image that youre shooting for, said Bivens, who pins photos of celebrities like Mel B to motivate her. Every little thing looks fit, tight, defined, and I just think thats an image of a great body!

But theres also a dark side to the site.

If you take it further, and search for anorexic, thinspiration, or thinspo on Pinterest, disturbing images come up of emaciated bodies and pro-anorexic slogans.

When I could see my bones and stuff, I was like, OK, I am thin! I have gotten there, said Sara, a Westwood resident.

Sara is recovering from anorexia and didnt want to show her face on camera, but said, in her darkest days, negative images like those found on Pinterest fueled her disorder.

Now that I have gone through all of this, I look at those pictures and I cant believe, like I watched Black Swan, and cant believe I wanted to look like that, Sara said.

Dr. Stacey Wadlington is a licensed clinical psychologist in Beverly Hills and said Pinterest needs to do more to monitor these images.

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More Women Using Social Networking Site Pinterest To Feed Eating Disorders

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