1

Young
Lexi Young

Scott Johnson

ENG1201

6 April 2022

Eating Disorders in Dancers

The correlation between dancers and eating disorders is abundant in research. The strive

for perfection and comparison to other dancers can cause thoughts of “Am I skinny enough to be

accepted into this company?” or “I can skip this meal today, so I look thinner for class.” These

thoughts start deficient eating habits and can turn into eating disorders. Why do dancers develop

eating disorders? What accompanies eating disorders in dancers? Dancers develop eating

disorders because of extreme perfectionism; eating disorders in dancers can cause additional

health problems along with mental health-related issues.

Approximately 9 percent of people develop an eating disorder worldwide. (National

Eating Disorder Association) eating disorders can affect anyone no matter age, race, gender, or

religion. National Eating Disorder Associate describes eating disorders as mental and physical

illness that is treatable. There are many types of eating disorders that range in intensity. The most

common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating. (National

Eating Disorder Association) Anorexia is excessive weight loss with intention. This can be

through calorie counting, excessive working out, or not eating at all. Bulimia is self-inducing

vomiting, often related to the cycle of binge eating. Bulimia can also occur because of an

individual’s guilty conscience telling them they do not deserve the food or feeling as though it

made them sick, even if there was no reason to. Binge eating is eating large quantities of food.

Binge eating often is in relation to unhealthy processed food that produces serotonin to make one
2
Young
feel good. Patients with a binge eating disorder feel guilty afterward and are traumatized by the

aftermath of the binge. The National Eating Disorder Association is credible through

sponsorships, credible eating disorder recovery programs, and helplines with trained volunteers

to serve eating disorder victims 24 hours, 7 days a week.

There are many signs that correlate with someone having an eating disorder. The major

signs to look out for are excessive weight loss or gain, control of calories, and dieting. There are

also finer signs that can be spotted, such as frequent dizziness, hair loss, muscle weakness, and

health problems (National Eating Disorders). While we can associate most of these signs with

other illnesses, when combined they are often a result of an eating disorder. A small clinic in

Maryland conducted a study that used a screening tool to help identify if patients had/has an

eating disorder. The questions asked to help the doctors identify specific signs that the patient

could have an eating disorder. The first question asked was about self-induced vomiting in

relation to bulimia. Binge eating was also in question by asking if they feel out of control for

how much they ate. Next was excessive weight loss, which correlates with anorexia. Body

dysmorphia can also be identified when asked if they feel they are fat, even if others say they are

skinny. The last question states, “Would you say food dominates your life?” (Read 125). This

question overall encompasses eating disorders and if checked, yes is a major sign of an eating

disorder. With this questionnaire, the clinic could identify more patients with an eating disorder

because the questionnaire identified different signs of each eating disorder (Read 132). Signs of

eating disorders range in a variety of severity, but the impact of each individual sign in relation

to an eating disorder will forever affect an eating disorder victim’s life.

The start of an eating disorder can range from a variety of reasons. It can start from body

image dissatisfaction, weight stigma, watching someone go through an eating disorder, excessive
3
Young
anxiety, or the strive for perfection (National Eating Disorder Association). All these physical

and mental effects on one’s life are valid reasons for having bad eating habits. While body

dysmorphia does not have to cause the development of an eating disorder, often because one sees

their body differently than what it is, the strive to achieve a certain look will start bad eating

habits. Unhealthy eating or bad eating habits encompass the range of the quantity of food one’s

body is receiving negatively. Once one develops insufficient eating habits, either too much food

or not enough, it requires great effort to regain control of one’s body and mind.

16.4 percent of ballet dancers had an eating disorder confirmed from studies from 1966 to

2013 (Arcelus). Disorder eating in dancers can be recalled back to the first ballet company.

George Balanchine, the co-founder of New York City Ballet, hired dancers that were lean and

thin. The strive for a “Balanchine body” in dance often starts with the thought of developing an

unhealthy relationship with food. A “Balanchine body” is considered a thin muscle figure.

Balanchine would often say he “wanted to see the bones” (Dunning). “Gelsey Kirkland has

written that as a trouble young dancer at City Ballet in the late 1960s, she was told by Balanchine

that he wanted to see the bones” (qtd in Dunning). The article by The New York Post in 1997

studied dancers in the School of American Ballet and their relationship with food. The purpose

of the article was to display the negative effect of the definition of a perfect body in the ballet

world. This not only targeted dancers, letting them know they are not alone but showed the dance

audience what they were going through. Even though most of the article was statements from

other dancers, their statements are something they went through, and others can back them up by

having similar experiences. The thought of being so skinny that someone can see the bones

holding up a dancer’s body is just as mentally damaging as physically not eating is. Dancer’s

during the start of ballet companies arising, and even now, wanted to be the definition of perfect,
4
Young
which was having a “Balanchine body.” The thought of being perfect has changed over the year,

but one thing has stayed consistent in the definition, and that is being one of the skinny people in

the room.

Victims often cover up the signs of an eating disorder. Eating disorders often start with a

diet and progress from there. Diets can comprise veganism to dairy avoidance. These diets can

be covered up by using ethical reasoning as to why someone is choosing to eat or not eat a

certain way. Dancer’s also can cover up their eating disorder by avoidance of eating with others

(Eating disorders and dancers). By avoiding eating in front of others, no one can track how much

or little one’s intake of food is. AusDance provides information and advocation in the dance

community. While AusDance is not credible in the sense of statistical studies, research and

personal studies can conclude valuable information on eating disorders in dancers. Dancers often

will hide eating disorders by avoiding the topic of food. By doing this, it takes the social pressure

of food off victims where they don’t have to contribute to a conversation about food. If dancers

are often going to the bathroom before class, after class, or anytime they ate, it is possible that

they could have bulimia. A dancer making themselves throw up will help elevate their guilt for

eating. It also can make a dancer feel they are skinnier in a leotard. It is harder for a dancer to

cover up weight loss or gain because of the environment and culture of the dance community,

but the victim will try to persuade peers and teachers to not look deeply into the topic.

Just as Balanchine wanted to “see the bones,” dance companies want a dancer that is

“fit.” Being fit can be defined in many ways. In 2009 Annus and Smith defined thinness and

restricting expectancies as “expectations that being thing or restricting food intake will lead to

reinforcement such as… becoming more attractive” (Penniment & Egan 14). The same study

defined thinness-related learning as “individual is exposed to learning about thinness in a dance

5
Young
class" (Penniment & Egan 14). The study concluded that taking part in dance is not what causes

the development of an eating disorder, but instead learning about thinness in dance class. This

association between being in class and learning about being thin can develop comparisons

between other dancers, and thoughts of trying to achieve the perfect body. Comparison in class is

because of trying to be a better dancer in the room; This can mean having the highest extension

to being the skinniest dancer. Learning about dieting and being fit in a ballet class caused a

negative connotation to how a dancers look now. When a dancer goes to class, they feel as

though who they are is not fit enough for a teacher.

Eating disorders for many people start from their psychic. In dancers especially, the strive

for perfection in their brains transfers over to their physical being; This can lead to unhealthy

eating habits. Dancers with a high strive for perfection feel as though they need to be the best

ones in the room. This perfectionism can transfer over to their body where they feel as though

they should be skinner or leaner. To achieve this, often dancers will diet, calorie count, or stop

eating altogether. Perfectionism in dancers is the arguable cause of eating disorders in the dance

community.

“Aspiring dancers are socialized into believing that the only way to succeed in a highly

competitive professional environment is to acquire and maintain an extremely thin body”

(Krogman 37). The “Handbook on eating disorders for dance teachers…” by Jennifer Tena

Krogman explains eating disorders, their impact, and prevention tips. Krogman's credibility is

admirable by the studies used as resources and overwhelmingly positive feedback from peers.

While the handbook targets dance teachers and how to help their students, it also can help

dancers understand what they are going through and why. Many of the thoughts starting an

eating disorder come from comparison to their definition of perfect. Eating Disorders develop
6
Young
from pressure not only externally but environmentally in the dance world. The pressure stated by

Krogman that being thin is the only way to exceed is prevalent in most dance classes. The

thought about being thin imbedded the only way to exceed in dance students in class. There is

also pressure internally to be perfect (Penniment & Egan 15). Dancers with anorexia and bulimia

exhibited higher levels of perfection. For most dancers, the strive for perfection comes from

wanting to achieve success. There is a constant battle in a dancer’s mind to look the best, jump

the highest, or be the teacher’s favorite. In the dance world, especially in ballet, it is hard not to

compare or judge oneself when one stands in front of a mirror in a leotard on the daily basis.

Dawn Smith-Theodore is a psychotherapist with a specialization in eating disorders and a

former dancer. Dawn developed anorexia-nervosa as a dancer and wants to help dancers with

what she went through. In an article with Pointe Magazine, “The Eating Disorder Trap: How

Dancers’ Perfectionism Can Make Things Dangerously Worse,” Dawn states that the pressure of

standing in a mirror and being perfect was a major factor in her developing anorexia. During

puberty, she thought losing a few pounds would help her look better in a leotard. The comparison

between being perfect and what she was achieving haunted her. She became out of control with

her eating habits, counting calories, and skipping meals. She started having a low heart rate,

skipped multiple menstrual cycles, and had severe stomach problems. Dawn states that there is a

dangerous line between being a perfectionist and becoming problematic. After recovering from

her eating disorder, she realized she could help other dancers and perfectionists with their eating

disorders. Dawn Smith-Theodore's story is a perfect example of the development, risks, and

effects of an eating disorder in a dancer.

Puberty in females causes many changes in one’s body. During puberty, girls are more

presumably to develop unhealthy eating habits caused by weight gain, anxiety, vulnerability, and
7
Young
dissatisfaction with body image (Krogman 37). These changes leave young girls, epically girls,

in an environment with a desired physique, considering and acting upon thoughts of eating

disorders such as bulimia and anorexia. During puberty, one might gain weight and broaden the

hips and shoulders. Many try to keep a female structure comes with unhealthy eating habits, such

as restrictions on food. Young girls are also more vulnerable during this time because of the

increase in body size. When young dancer sees a famous dancer has a thin body, they believe

that is what a perfect body is to achieve the outcome they are looking for as a dancer. (Krogman

38). This view of society and achievement is reinforced, causing the development of an eating

disorder. Body dissatisfaction is bound to happen with the increase of body fat, development of

breasts, widening of the body, and hormonal changes (Krogman 38). While going through

puberty, young girls are more vulnerable to changes and outside perceptions, which will affect

the way they see the body, which can cause the start of an eating disorder.

Often, when there is an eating disorder, there is another mental illness. Many victims of

eating disorders feel worthless and inadequate because of internal and external pressure. Many

people with eating disorders also have anxiety and depression (Taylor & Estanol). The purpose

of “Understand the Complexity of Eating Disorders in Dancers” is to make aware of the

perfectionism going through their brains as well as educate dancers, parents, and teachers on the

effects of eating disorders, along with their prevalence. Taylor and Estanol provide studies that

support their conclusions of eating disorders being prevalent risks in dancers. These studies have

shown that dancers admit to being under pressure to lose weight or look a certain type. 55

percent of 200 dancers admitted to this; They were female dancers dancing for professional

schools/companies. This pressure will cause almost anyone to have anxiety about the way they
8
Young
look or how they feel in the arms of others. This anxiety will become so immense that the victim

feels worthless, causing them to become depressed.

In a study of Spanish dancers, researchers concluded that there is no solid evidence to say

dancers have a higher risk of having an eating disorder. While dancers are a specific type of

person, dancers portray the same thoughts and actions as non-dancer that have an eating disorder.

“Eating attitudes, body image, and risk for eating disorders in a group of Spanish dancers” study

is not to counter-argue that dancers have eating disorders, but the purpose was to break down if

and why dancers could develop one. While the audience would mainly be toward dancers

because the study is reliable based on peer reviews, sponsorships, and clinical studies, it can also

target psychiatrists and nutritionists. The thought of losing a few pounds starts with a diet.

Dancers in the study on a diet were found to have actual weight and perceived weight discretion

(Valero-Blanco). This is shown by how dancers are more likely to weigh themselves. By

weighing themselves, they are going to constantly have thoughts of skipping another meal or

losing a few pounds. We can find the action of constantly weighting oneself in other eating

disorder patients but is higher in dancers because they are more likely to weigh themselves

(Valero-Blanco). Even though this study in Spain showed that dancers, as a category, are not as

likely to have an eating disorder, they display traits on a higher level than people who do have

eating disorders.

Eating disorders can cause additional health problems. With dance being demanding on

the body, the risk of additional health problems is higher. In a study with Cesar A. Hincapié and

J. David Cassidy, “Disordered Eating, Menstrual Disturbances, and Low Bone Mineral Density

in Dancers: A Systematic Review,” they discuss the physical effects of an eating disorder in

dancers. Their study showed musculoskeletal injuries, pain, and nutritional, and metabolic
9
Young
disorders in dancers. University-level dancers in ballet showed amenorrhea, which is the absence

of a menstrual period (Hincapié & Cassidy). The stop of menstruation in women is dangerous as

it leads to vaginal issues. This also caused hormonal changes which can affect a woman’s mental

health. They also revealed that in retired professional ballerinas, 23.8 percent of their participants

have/had osteoporosis (Hincapié & Cassidy). Osteoporosis is the weakening and thinness of the

bones. Even though the dancers in this study are retired, the diseases started while they were

dancing, which is extremely dangerous. This causes a dancer to be more fragile while dancing

and especially in lifts where there is a greater chance of falling. These accompanying health

issues leave a greater risk for a dancer to affect their overall life. These diseases affect their

normal non-dancer life, which imposes a distribution in long-term health.

Eating disorders can cause bone mineral density to be higher. Bone mineral density being

low leads to the likeness of fractures and breaks. “Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition

of Collegiate Modern Dancers” studies collegiate dancers and the relation between bone mineral

density and eating habits. The study revealed that bone mineral density was higher in modern

dancers than in the control participants (Friesen et al. 31). This would argue that dancers do not

have a lower bone mineral density. This could be true if eating disorders were not a factor. In the

study, the dancers showed a heavy relationship to an eating disorder than the control participant

due to the lower body fat percentage, fat distribution, and percent fat intake. Because these low

levels will decrease the bone mineral density (Friesen et al. 31). The study's purpose was to show

dancers and other doctors the relationship between dance, food, and bone density. Because the

researchers are all doctors, the credibility is high, accompanied by it being published in the

“Journal of Dance Medicine & Science.” During adolescence, teenagers’ bones grow rapidly;

Without the proper nutrients to help the growth, the bone mineral density will be lower. This
10
Young
relationship with puberty and pressure internally and externally is a greater impact because of the

extreme effect food can have on one’s growth as a child.

Kaitlynd Valentini-Kyme former dancer, now dance teacher, was asked questions about

her relationship with food and her relationship now with dance students going through eating

disorders. Kaitlynd states that growing up as a dancer, she was a normal weight and never

thought about her relationship with food. It wasn’t until she got to college that she was told by

teachers that to be cast in guest choreography works; she had to lose 15 pounds (Valentini-

Kyme). During this time, she became obsessed with counting calories, weighing herself on the

scale, and measuring her problem areas. Looking back, she states that perfection shaped her

relationship with food. When she would skip meals, she was told that her dancing looked great,

which added to her perfectionism (Valentini-Kyme). Based on the feedback she was getting, she

believed that skipping meals became a requirement to be a professional dancer. Now, as a post-

collegiate dancer, she still doesn’t have a positive relationship with food. She judges what she ate

that day and is subconscious about what others think she looks like.

After years of therapy, she doesn’t go back to old unhealthy habits during the time of her

eating disorder. She learned coping mechanisms that helped her reconstruct her relationship with

food and the anxiety that came with it. As a dance teacher, Kaitlynd finds herself hyper-aware of

students' eating habits. She also heavily thinks about how she words corrections so that they

don’t adhere to one body type or body shape (Valentini-Kyme). Because of this, she creates a

positive non-weight-defining dance environment. Kaitlynd’s interview ensures that there is a

light at the end of the tunnel with eating disorders in the dance community. She is now an

established choreographer that helps dancers find their passion in a positive educational way and

where a dancer’s weight does not determine their spot in the dance world.
11
Young
While we can define perfectionism differently, for a dancer, it means having a certain

physique. To get a lean body build, dancers often develop unhealthy eating habits. Puberty is a

key point when some eating disorders start in dancers. Unsupportive and dreadful thoughts from

depression caused by a dancer trying to be perfect can also lead to an eating disorder. This illness

is hard to control and can lead to bigger health problems, including lower bone mineral density,

loss of menstrual period, and weakening of bones. Dancers are more likely to diet to get the

perfect body, which can lead to weight discrepancies physically and mentally. Overall, the

thoughts of a dancer trying to achieve perfectionism can physically harm them through eating

disorders.
12
Young
Works Cited

Arcelus, Jon et al. “Prevalence of eating disorders amongst dancers: a systemic review and meta-

analysis.” European eating disorders review: the journal of the Eating Disorders

Association vol. 22,2 (2014): 92-101. doi:10.1002/erv.2271

Dunning, Jennifer. “Eating Disorders Haunt Ballerinas.” The New York Times, 16 July 1997,

https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/16/arts/eating-disorders-haunt-ballerinas.html.

Accessed 23 Mar. 2022.

Friesen, Karlie J., et al. “Bone Mineral Density and Body Composition of Collegiate Modern

Dancers.” Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 41, no. 5, 2009, pp. 288–289.,

https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000355430.04307.7b.

Hincapié , Cesar A., and J. David Cassidy . “Disordered Eating, Menstrual Disturbances, and

Low Bone Mineral Density in Dancers: A Systematic Review.” Archives of Physical

Medicine and Rehabilitation , vol. 91, no. 11, 2010, pp. p1633–1794. Archives of

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation , https://www.archives-pmr.org/issue/S0003-

9993(10)X0012-0. Accessed 23 Mar. 2022.

Krogman, Jennifer Tena, "Handbook on eating disorders for dance teachers: A guide to

understanding anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and promoting proper nutrition in

young female dancers" (2002). Theses Digitization Project. 2244.

https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2244.

Read, Ashley K. “The Implementation and Evaluation of the SCOFF (Sick, Control, One Stone,

Fat, Food) Eating Disorder Screening Tool for Children and Adolescents.” Pediatric

Nursing, vol. 47, no. 3, May 2021, pp. 124–32. EBSCOhost,

13
Young
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=150893808&site=eds-

live.

Smith-Theodore, Dawn. “The Eating Disorder Trap: How Dancers' Perfectionism Can Make

Things Dangerously Worse.” Pointe Magazine, 6 Dec. 2021,

https://pointemagazine.com/eating-disorders-ballet/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2022.

Taylor, Jim, and Elena Estanol. “Understand the Complexity of Eating Disorders in Dancers.”

Human Kinetics, 2015, https://us.humankinetics.com/blogs/excerpt/understand-the-

complexity-of-eating-disorders-in-dancers.

Penniment, Kylie J., and Sarah J. Egan. “Perfectionism and Learning Experiences in Dance Class

as Risk Factors for Eating Disorders in Dancers.” European Eating Disorders Review,

vol. 20, no. 1, 2011, pp. 13–22., https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.1089.

“Statistics & Research on Eating Disorders.” National Eating Disorders Association, 14 July

2021, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders.

Valentini-Kyme, Kaitlynd. Interview. Conducted by Lexi Young, 23 Mar. 2022.

Valero-Blanco, Eva, et al. “Eating Attitudes, Body Image and Risk for Eating Disorders in a

Group of Spanish Dancers.” Nutricion Hospitalaria, vol. 33, no. 5, Sept. 2016, pp. 1213–

21.

“Warning Signs and Symptoms.” National Eating Disorders Association, 14 July 2021,

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/warning-signs-and-symptoms.

“What Are Eating Disorders?” National Eating Disorders Association, 14 July 2021,

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/what-are-eating-disorders.