Eating Attitudes and Anthropometric Indices of Adult Women in Performance Dance: A Case-Control Study in Greece

Abstract

Objective: Dancers are at an increased risk of developing eating disorders and health issues. The aim of this case-control study was to compare dietary intake, anthropometric indices and eating attitudes of adult professional dancers to their age- and sex-matched non-dancer females. 170 females (cases: n = 68, controls: n = 102) were voluntarily enroled. Methods: Anthropometric, dietary characteristics and eating attitudes were derived through standard procedures. Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) were used to assess eating attitudes. Results: Female dancers were more likely to have better body composition including body weight, handgrip strength and muscle mass, p < 0.05, as compared to non-dancer females. Besides, dancers had lower energy and fat intake but higher protein intake, as well as higher intake of several micronutrients (i.e., beta-carotene, vitamin D, B6, biotin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese) but lower intake of iron and zinc (p < 0.05) compared to non-dancers. After adjustments, dancers had 5% higher score on EDE-Q-Restraint, but non-dancers had higher eating concerns when energy intake was taken into consideration (b = 0.61 ± 0.29, p = 0.038). Conclusions: It is imperative to establish strategies to prevent eating disorders in dancers who exhibit restrictive behaviours and minimise the anxiety that women experience regarding food by establishing new social norms.