According to one woman selling them on Etsy, the bracelets were initially intended as a subtle sign of solidarity among eating disorder survivors. "This bracelet is not intended to be used as "pro-ana" paraphernalia, but as a reminder that one is not ailing or hurting alone," she explained. "To my knowledge, this was the original idea of the red bracelet, but misuse and negative media attention has warped into it a self-destructive accessory."