Eating Disorders in Ballet Dancers
Psychological Characteristics
- Mark H. Anshel
- Three predisposing characteristics identified
- Dancers vs. Non-dancers
- Common psychopathology among women with eating disorders
- Neumärker et al.
- Eating Disorder Inventory
- Male dancers vs non-dancers
Overview
- Risk Factors
- Prevalence of Eating Disorders
- AN vs BN
- EDNOS
- Implications of the Research
- Treatment and Prevention Methods
Ringham et al
Risk Factors
- Eating disorder symptomatology
- 83% of dancers met lifetime criteria for AN, BN, AN+BN, or EDNOS
- Found an equal prevalence of AN and BN in dancers
- EDNOS = 55% of dancers
- Age
- Characteristics of dancers
- Demands of the career
- Competitive environment
- Label of the "tiny dancer"
Jennifer Ringer
The Black Swan
Implications
- Psychological profile
- Role of the environment
- Genetics
Treatment and Prevention Methods
- New methods implemented:
- Royal Ballet Theater in London
- American Ballet Theater
- Wellness Initiative
- Rachel Parker
- Speaks at conferences for Dance UK