When we think of ballet, we often imagine lithe, lean, long-limbed ballerinas gracefully and effortlessly performing demanding technical feats. However, maintaining a body that fulfills this aesthetic standard is demanding. As a result, ballet dancers can be dissatisfied with their bodies and, thus, at a risk for eating disorders.
In their review of 33 articles that focused on the rates on eating disorders among dancers, Arcelus and colleagues found that more than 16% of ballet dancers had eating disorders compared to 2 to 8% of women in general. The most common eating disorder among dancers was EDNOS (eating disorder not otherwise specified that is of clinical severity but does not match the diagnostic criteria of anorexia or bulimia).
Although not all ballet dancers develop eating disorders, many are unhappy with their body. Santo Andre and colleagues took a deep look into 14 Brazilian ballet dancers’ perceptions of their bodies. Through questionnaires and group interviews, they found that while about 14 % showed symptoms of eating disorders, half of the dancers were dissatisfied with their bodies because they wanted to be thinner. To lose weight, the dancers did not eat any "fatty" foods, skipped meals, or drank water when hungry instead of eating. If they broke such restrictions, they felt guilty and anxious. Although wanting to be thinner to dance ballet, the dancers, interestingly, were quite satisfied with their bodies when talking about their lives outside of ballet.
It is obvious that professional ballet dancers face a lot of pressure to obtain and maintain a suitably slim body. In addition to a professional career, ballet is now a popular recreational activity, particularly among women. Do recreational ballet dancers also feel dissatisfied with their bodies? Do they feel pressure to be thin to look like professional dancers?
To map recreational ballet dancers’ body perceptions, de Medeiros Eufrásio and colleagues compared 19 adult recreational ballet dancers’ body image to that of 19 gym-goers (who trained about four hours/week), and 19 sedentary women. To do this, they determined the dancers’ body mass index (BMI: the weight to height ratio divided by the square) and the amount of calcium and other minerals in their bones (using dual X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA). In addition, they assessed the participants’ body image through the body shape questionnaire and figure rating scale to detect their body dissatisfaction and distortion. Finally, they employed an eating attitudes test to detect possible eating disordered behaviours.
They found that the ballet dancers had the lowest BMI (20.9) of the group. They were also the most satisfied with their bodies and, thus, the least concerned with their body image. The researchers emphasized that the ballet dancers practiced in a recreational setting and did not have the same performance pressures as professional ballerinas. We can also keep in mind that the professional ballerinas interviewed by Santo Andre and colleagues were happy with their bodies outside of the ballet world.
The gym-goers were less satisfied with their bodies than the ballet dancers, but, notably, the sedentary women had the most body image distortion, body dissatisfaction, and body concerns.
The researchers concluded that being physically active, particularly dancing ballet, can improve body satisfaction and, thus, body image. At the same time, they pointed out that the ballet dancers had a lowest BMI and were the closest to the ideal, thin body. The sedentary women had the highest BMI (23) and were the furthest from ideal body shape. None of the participating women, however, had a BMI indicating overweight or obesity, but many still desired to be thinner. It seemed that the leaner the body shape, the better the participating woman’s body image.
The researchers concluded that ballet requires extensive training and thus, a thin body shape is a necessary result of the training. The leanness, these researchers assessed, made the dancers feel good about their bodies and then improved their body image. Evidently, a lean body shape achieved through physical activity, including ballet, continues to be the requirement for women’s body satisfaction.
Can one, then, feel good about dancing ballet only if one has a thin body? Is the only reason to take recreational ballet class to become thinner?
The study design did not allow the researchers to map women’s lived experiences of dancing. Could the dancers participate in ballet for other reasons than weight loss, such as enjoyment or learning new skills? Could dancing ballet be fun without a concern about the looks of one’s body?
It is also obvious that simply having a thin body does not make one a good ballet dancer. It may be possible that recreational ballet dancers find joy in increased strength, mobility, or moving with music with other dancers. An emphasis on such qualities, rather than on thinness, may make ballet more popular among women of all ages and body sizes. Research that focuses on what recreational ballet dancers themselves find compelling in their activity can help to provide a more complete picture of ballet as women’s leisure activity.
References
Arcelus, J., Witcomb, G. L., & Mitchell, A., (2014). Prevalence of eating disorders amongst dancers: A systemic review and meta-analysis. European Eating Disorders Review, 22, 92–101.
de Medeiros Eufrásio, R. E., Lawrynhuk Urbano Ferreira, R., Araújo Leal, L. L., Baracho Avelino, E., Nayara da Costa Pelonha, R., da Cruz Carvalho, M. C., de Medeiros Torres, C. H., de Sousa Praseres, A. L., de Paiva Lima Filho, M., Costa Campos Mota, A. C., Bezerra Nunes, A., Quitéria Cabral Ferreira, D., de Lima Vale, S. H., & Lima Maciel, B. L. (2021). Amateur ballet practicing, body image and eating behaviors: A comparative study of classical ballet dancers, gym users and sedentary women. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9 (106), 1-11, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-021-00459-9.
Santo André, H.C., Pinto, A. J., Mazzolani, B. C., Smaira, F. I., Ulian, M. D., Gualano, B., & Benatti, F. B. (2022). “Can a ballerina eat ice cream?”: A mixed-method study on eating attitudes and body image in female ballet dancers. Frontiers in Nutrition, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.665654.
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