A prospective study of eating disturbances in the ballet.
A group of 35 ballet students was assessed and then retested between 2 and 4 years later to determine the persistence of eating symptoms and to identify factors which predict eating disorders. Of those interviewed at follow-up, 25.7% had anorexia nervosa and 14.2% had either bulimia nervosa or a 'partial syndrome'. 'Drive for thinness' and 'body dissatisfaction' scales of the Eating Disorder Inventory were the only measures which predicted development of eating disorders at follow-up. The finding that most cases of anorexia nervosa gained weight at follow-up was similar to an earlier report; however, the view that these disorders were benign adaptations to the ballet subculture was challenged by the observation that many continued to experience significant eating disorder symptoms at follow-up. Findings indicate that vulnerable adolescents may be identified early using economical self-report measures as the initial step in a two-stage screening process.
D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D003615:Dancing; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors