QUESTION:  WHAT DOES "PRO-ANA" MEAN?

ANSWER:
The two major definitions of ProAna are based on the two most common populations who embrace the term as an identifying descriptor:
1. Individuals suffering from Anorexia Nervosa (AN) or other restrictive eating disorders (ED's): Commonly, this approach to living with an ED stems from barriers to treatment and a subsequent desire to reach out and connect with kindred sufferers for support. They may or may not be recovery-oriented. Genuine ED sufferers who identify as ProAna embrace the term as PROACTIVE IN ANOREXIA - making the most of their Lives despite their disorder. This group includes those for whom treatment is inadequate, inaccessible or unwanted.
2. Individuals who covet pathology; who emulate anorexic behaviors and WANT to cultivate and celebrate ED's within themselves (aka "wanarexics").  These individuals have taken an historical empowerment motto and twisted it's intended meaning to a literal interpretation (i.e., a disavowal of victim mentality as an empowerment strategy -- they actually believe that "Anorexia is a Lifestyle, Not A Disease." These are individuals who do NOT have ED's but wish they did; those who strive to attain the extremely thin physique exhibited in long-term anorexics; who emulate the eating-disordered practices which manifest in AN patients.
The former are seeking a new approach to living with these insidious illnesses; reaching out when current treatment modalities have failed to help. The articulation of the "Ana Creed" and "Ana Psalm"; "Thin Commandments" and "Letters from Ana or Mia" were intended as CREATIVE ALLITERATIONS; explorations of the ED psyche - they were NEVER meant to be taken literally! This is a critical issue. Wanarexics have embraced these creative works as literal tenets for "how to become anorexic."
The latter are resented by genuine sufferers who know all-too-well that ED's are not glamorous or cool or chic in any way.

_______________

If a significant portion of the above text looks familiar, it is (at least to those who read my original essay on the issue, published first on Project Shapeshift's Tumblr page.  I recently answered a question regarding what ProAna means, and I thought I'd share the updated answer here.  I am also working on a major edit (with research citations) for the Wikipedia sections on ProAna (main and subcategory under the ED section).  I have updated my previous article to be more professional and less "insider-only"/colloquial, and I decided to share it here. <3  Thoughts?