In “The Hunger Diaries,” Drummond concludes that some healthy living bloggers exhibit disordered eating and exercise obsession, and this is unhealthy for the readers. I would like to articulate my thoughts on what it means to blog responsibly.

“Drummond was provided with my critical opinions on healthy living blog extremes, eating disorders, blogging responsibility, and exercise obsession, yet no mention of my acknowledgment of these potential problems was brought to light. Instead, I was cast as clueless about my influence and responsibilities as a blogger, ignorant to any negatives of healthy living blogging.”

I was disappointed that Drummond treated me like I was completely unaware that there could be negative parts of healthy living blogging, when in fact I told her this in February 2010:

Q:Do you worry that some of the blogs, even the more mainstream ones, might do more harm than good, particularly with regards to body image, comparison syndrome, and so on?

A: More harm than good? No, but I do think someone can be made to feel badly about herself because of comparisons to seemingly “perfect bloggers,” especially if the reader is already struggling with self-esteem or eating issues.

Food blogging is like a self-edited reality show – you decide what you tell, what you show, and what gets cut out. It’s easy for bloggers to appear perfect or to have the perfect diet, workout or life, and it’s simply not possible! And comparisons are, unfortunately, a natural tendency.

But I also think that for every person who is knocked down, a handful are motivated to be truly healthier. I know that I personally would not have run two half marathons if I didn’t see many other great women doing the same thing.

So, what do I do about this? What is my take on a blogger’s responsibility to her readers?

1. Do I Think Healthy Living Bloggers As A Whole Are Responsible To Their Readers?

Well, yes and no. I think blogging is a personal thing (unless you are blogging for a company that dictates rules for you ie. you are the Brand X Sneaker Company Official Blogger), and therefore, choosing how and what you will blog is completely personal. Taking that individual right away from bloggers is not the answer.

Personally, I think very carefully about every word I write. I think about who is finding my blog and similar blogs. I know there are people searching for recipes, people looking for inspiration to get healthier, and people using these blogs for the multitude of purposes for which they are designed.

But of course there are people with eating disorders and exercise obsessions who find them too. Looking at pictures of food and being involved in tracking the food intake and exercise of a stranger are surely things that someone might do if they themselves are going through something troubling. To say otherwise is silly and naive.

But again, I do not think that is the purpose of many of these types of blogs, and I cannot agree that blog writers need to edit what they say to cater to all these potential readers. It’s a completely personal decision for each blogger.

2. What Should You Do If You Want To Be More Responsible?

I will tell you what I do.

Blogging, eating, and fitness are such personal things. When the three are combined, there is such an emotional and strong reaction that it can sometimes be hard to be rational. Take a step back and think it over. Then ask yourself, “what does blogging responsibly mean to you?”

• State your purpose: Think about why you blog, and remind people of it. Repeatedly. Different blogs should have different audiences, and being as clear as possible about who your intended audience is can only make things better.
• Share the downs and the ups: I love talking about things I have a hard time with. It helps me (selfish motivation), but it reminds people that they don’t need to be perfect to be healthy (altruistic motivation).
• Do no give out advice: I am not a fitness or health expert and I do not ever tell anyone what to do.
• Blog differently. If there is something I see on another blog that alarms me I make sure to do something different on my blog. Instead of calling attention to the questionable behavior, I simply provide an alternative for readers. I do not find food and exercise journaling inherently wrong, but I see how some people should not read those types of blogs. Instead of calling for an end to them (I know they help many people), I just do something else.
• Stop reading that blog.This is not the “if you don’t like it, stop reading” argument. People love to hate the Jersey Shore, but as long as people keep watching, it will be on air. Similarly, if people continue to read and support blogs that are potentially harmful, the bloggers will keep writing the same exact way, gaining popularity and reinforcement that their behavior is totally normal and even admirable. I promise that there is a world of other blogs out there waiting for you to read them.