Ana

What does Ana mean?

Anorexia

‘Ana’ is a slang term that stands for “anorexia”, a serious eating disorder where people intentionally starve themselves to lose weight. You might come across this term in online spaces such as health forums, nutrition blogs and social media platforms.

Many times, ‘Ana’ is used by individuals to share their personal experiences and warn others about the risks involved with this disorder. For instance, a person might share a tweet or a post about how their journey with ‘Ana’ started at a young age and now they are making efforts to recover.

Some people personify their battle with anorexia as ‘Ana’ and talk about it like a real person. So, you might come across posts like, “I had a tough fight with ‘Ana’ today but I came out victorious. Today was a good day.”

However, it is important to note that not everyone uses ‘Ana’ in a cautionary or recovery context. Some individuals, known as pro-ana, might promote or encourage anorexic behaviors to some extent. These individuals often face criticism from health professionals and concerned individuals for promoting a harmful and dangerous lifestyle.

Example for using ‘Ana’ in a conversation

Hey, have you heard of Ana?

Yeah, Ana is short for “anorexia,” right?

Exactly! It’s an eating disorder where people don’t eat to lose weight.

I’ve seen people talking about Ana on social media. They warn about the dangers of the disorder.