Do professional ballet dancers maintain a low body weight simply because they are in a weight-conscious environment, or is there a high prevalence of eating disorder symptoms among those in this career similar to non-dancers with eating disorders?

According to a study of 29 ballet dancers, both professional and in training for a professional career in dance—as many as 83% reported some form of disordered eating patterns. While previous studies have shown that anorexia nervosa is common among dancers, this study revealed that many dancers exhibit bulimic behaviors such as binging, purging, and using laxatives, and a majority showed at least some characteristics of bulimia, anorexia, or both.

Because the study participants had not previously been diagnosed with an eating disorder, this study, reported in a recent issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders, emphasizes the need for further research to promote understanding of disordered eating patterns among dancers - and hopefully to enhance identification and treatment of eating disorders among this group.