Abstract

Author(s): Maciel Hartmann, Lívia1; Yumi Uchimura, Katia2; Maria dos Santos, Silvana1; Mezzomo, Thais Regina1

Aim: To know the frequency of abnormal eating behavior and body image dissatisfaction of professional ballet dancers of a ballet company

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study with professional ballet dancers from a ballet company in Londrina, PR, Brazil. Anthropometric evaluation, Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), presence of bulimic behaviors by Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE) and body image satisfaction by the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) in professional dancers 18 years. Analysis of the association between EAT26, BSQ and BITE was performed with Fisher’s test.

Results: Thirty-five dancers were evaluated, with 80% (n = 28) female and 20% (n = 7) males, mean age 22.2 ± 6.8 years and body mass index 20.0 ± 1.9 kg/m2. The evaluation of the alimentary behavior demonstrated alimentary attitudes that represent risk of development of anorexia in the female sex. Bulimic behavior was found in 75% of females and 14.28% of males. Distortion of body image was found only in females, in 75% of the dancers. There was a significant (p <0.05) association between EAT-26 and BSQ and between BITE and BSQ.

Conclusion: The data of this study indicate that the evaluated dancers present an important alteration in eating behavior, with a high risk of developing anorexia and bulimia nervosa, and severe distortion of body image.