Disturbed eating attitudes, social physique anxiety, and perceived pressure for thin body in professional dancers

ABSTRACT

Professional ballet dancers are known as a high-risk group for adopting disordered eating behaviours. However, research regarding the professionals of other dance styles/genres is quite limited. The present study explored disordered eating, social physique anxiety (SPA) and perceived pressure for a thin body in professional dancers of different dance styles and genres. The Eating Attitude Test questionnaire (EAT-26), the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS), and the questionnaire for thin body by significant others were administered to 108 professional dancers of ballet (n = 37), Latin (n = 31) and traditional dance (n = 40). The results showed that seven dancers had an EAT-26 score ≥20, indicating abnormal eating behaviour. No statistically significant differences were found among the three dance groups in any assessment tool, even after controlling for age, sex and professional experience. However, when Body Mass Index (BMI) was added as a potential confounder in the model, significant differences were revealed. Our results indicate that BMI and not the dance genre is an important contributing factor for both the self-control of eating and the perceived pressure from co-dancers and choreographers. If a better ‘dance life’ is to be accomplished, actions aiming at enhancing positive relationships within professional dance environment would be beneficial for dancers.

KEYWORDS:

• Disordered eating
• EAT-26
• SPAS
• ballet
• traditional dance
• Latin dance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. School name anonymized, suitable for anonymous reviewing.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Stavroula Kalyva

Stavroula Kalyva has just received a Bachelor’s degree from the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Moreover, she is a professional dancer of Greek traditional dance, member of the ensemble of the ‘Dora Stratou’ Theater, Greece.

Mary Yannakoulia

Mary Yannakoulia is an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Eating Behavior at Harokopio University of Athens, Greece. Her research interests focus on eating behavior and eating habits of women, children and adolescents, weight management in childhood and adolescence, eating disorders, improving adherence to dietary interventions in diseased people, and factors affecting hunger and satiety.

Maria Koutsouba

Maria Koutsouba is a Professor in Choreology with emphasis on Greek Traditional Dance at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research interests are in humanities and social Sciences and Dance/Art/Culture, in education and dance/art/culture and in the analysis and assessment of the dance praxis (notation, morphology, and kinesiology).

Fotini Venetsanou

Fotini Venetsanou is an Associate Professor in Gymnastics at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her research interests focus on several aspects of the quality of life in children and adults. Furthermore, she was a dance teacher for more than two decades.