Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeBracelets Reveal Secret Anorexic Society
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courtesy WDIVThey look like any bracelet you might buy at the mall and you probably wouldn't even notice if your child started wearing one.
But these are not just any bracelet and what they represent could be putting your teenager's life on the line.
They're secret symbols of a deadly obsession, a sign of membership in a disturbing world of underground websites, connecting people who share a dangerous passion.
"Encouraging people to be ill is really what it is and it's like a secret cult, a secret society and word spreads around," said Lynn Grefe of National Eating Disorders Association.
The controversial bracelets are sold for 15 dollars on www.bluedragonfly.org.
These inconspicuious bracelets are actually a secret signal for people with eating disorders and other destructive behaviors, people who say they don't want to get better.
Red bracelets represent anorexia.
Purple is for bulimia.
Black and blue for self-injury, like cutting.
"Only the people that know about it, know that you have an eating disorder," said 18 year-old Eve Rosenblum, who owns one of the secret bracelets and visits websites like www.bluedragonfly.org almost daily.
"They understand," explained Eve. "They don't think it's like horrible and they don't think you should get better."
University of Hawaii freshmen Jaci Gyotaku and Stacy Narahara are healthy, happy teenagers, who do not have an eating disorder.
But, they do understand the pressure to stay thin.
"People who look at celebrities as role models would like to be like them. or look like them," said Narahara.
"Of course. Everyone want to be beautiful," said Narahara. "But then some things aren't worth it."
If you have an eating disorder, help is available right here in the islands.
Here is a list of resources and local support groups:
HELP CENTERS: www.aipono.com http://eating-disorder-recovery.com/eatingdisorder.htm
INFORMATION: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/eatingdisorders.html
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