Central European Journal of Sport Sciences and Medicine


ISSN: 2300-9705     eISSN: 2353-2807    OAI    DOI: 10.18276/cej.2025.4-06
CC BY-SA   Open Access   DOAJ  DOAJ  DOAJ

Issue archive / Vol. 52, No. 4/2025
Predisposition to Eating Disorders among Ballet Dancers: An Analysis Using the EAT-26 and EDE-Q Questionnaires

Authors: Karina Ryterska ORCID
Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland

Patrycja Kulczyńska
Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
Keywords: ballet eating disorders anorexia bulimia
Whole issue publication date:2025
Page range:12 (67-78)
Cited-by (Crossref) ?:

Abstract

Eating disorders (EDs) are complex psychiatric conditions with consequences extending to both somatic and psychosocial domains. Their prevalence among physically active individuals, particularly within artistic environments, has attracted considerable scientific attention. Ballet dancers constitute one of the groups especially predisposed to these disorders. Ballet requires not only exceptional physical fitness but also the fulfillment of specific aesthetic standards, including the maintenance of a slender body shape. Consequently, ballet dancers are at elevated risk of developing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other forms of disordered eating. The aim of this study was to analyze the predisposition to eating disorders among ballet dancers using validated diagnostic tools (EAT-26 and EDE-Q). The study included 25 adult ballet dancers from Poland. The results revealed that more than half of the participants obtained scores indicative of a high risk of EDs. These findings highlight the need for further investigation of this issue and underscore the importance of implementing preventive and therapeutic interventions.
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