Dancers,have you ever had signs of anorexia?

Question

I ask this because it hit's people like dancers and my daughter is showing signs, she's only 14 but obsessed with dance. What are the things that go through your mind?

Answer 1

unfortunately your daughter probably does have an eating disorder, and she probably has at least thought about it even as young as 11 or 12.. Ballet puts a lot of stress on your body not only your muscles you use but weight control too. With school and being so involved in dance she probably feels "out o control" a lot of eating disorders start because young girls (and some boys) feel that this is the only thing they have control over in their lives. also another thought is that if she just "loses" 5 more pounds it will make her a better dancer. Of course this is not true, there are many girls who are at perfect weight or even a little over weight who are wonderful, beautiful dancers! If you feel that your daughter has an eating disorder first you need to confront her, see if there is anything triggering it like depression or the above things that i said. Then talk to her dance teacher, ask if she has noticed if your daughter has shown any signs of an eating disorder, like being weak during class. Because your daughter isnt getting the nutrients she needs, her body will not be working in tip top shape. And last but not least contact a psychologist who specializes in eating disorders. Her dance teacher may no of some in the area. I have to warn you though your daughter will be saying everything is ok and if you do bring her to a psychologist she will not be very thrilled to be there. i wish you all the luck, i know this is a very scary thing to go through! Best Wishes, and i hope your daughter gets better.

Answer 2

Yes I trained as a dancer throughout most of my teens and was severely anorexic, to the point where I nearly died!

In ballet there is such an emphasis on being slight and slim and being in a leotard really shows any little lumps and bumps. There is also great competition to be the slimmest, the best, the most flexible, the most beautiful. Many young dancers become anorexic, its a sad fact. At my worst I survived on a glass of milk a day! I used to have fainting fits, my periods stopped and I had to be hospitalised.

I gave up dancing for years after that (was too ill to carry on) but took it up again in my later twenties as a hobby. I'm now 35 and hoping to teach someday. I still worry about my weight though! Especially when I see the stick thin 17 year olds!!! I've just had a baby and my anorexia has resurfaced again.

Answer 3

Ballet Dancers suffer from anorexia and Bulimia.
We live in a world that insists we should be stick thin and looking androgyny's.
If you are concerned about her showing signs of anorexia you will need to address it really quickly.

I have had experience with both the eating disorders as my best friend danced with the English Ballet and the pressure to stay a certain weight is hard.

The feeling you get with Anorexia is guilt if you eat despite the fact your really hungry.

Also you get a buss knowing your in control.
Initially the weight loss will attract comments then the danger hits because your body will not take the food even if you try.

As the disease gets hold you change and not for the better worse case scenario is your body stops and the organs shut down.
Hair grows all over to keep warm I am sure you have a good idea what happens.

Good Luck as the battle to try and help someone is really hard.

Answer 4

I'm a 15-year-old dancer and I've never had signs of anorexia. (Trust me, I'm always eating.) I usually think, I'd rather be strong than skinny. Also, if I ever skip on eating before going to dance in the morning, I feel really short of breath and it doesn't help my dancing at all.

But that's me personally. It's definitely possible that your daughter has anorexia, as answerers above me have already said. A passion for dance is not dangerous but an eating disorder is.

Answer 5

well, she needs to eat way more carbs and stuff, a dancers diet is full of carbs because we burn off so much every day, if a dancer had stopped dancing, but kept her diet she would gain weight. have a talk with your daughter, does she read dance spirit magazines? cause there was an issue about a month ago on dieting for dancers, check it out. my teacher has been through being to thin and has gotten really sick with diseases from not being ealthy enough during flu season, again, talk to your daughter and not in a way like you think she has no idea, she probably does, but doesn't know what to do, hope i helped pce!

Answer 6

This is a very difficult issue. As a dancer there will be enormous pressure on your daughter to remain thin. If she isn't naturally thin she will always have this struggle. She needs help now; fortunately you have seen the signs. Can you enlist support from her teachers, etc? Point out to her that she needs a lot of strength & stamina to dance & she needs a healthy diet for this. You could also point out that her training is burning up calories every day. Even though it's hard for her to accept, dancing is not worth risking her health for. I hope that she will accept help & that she will still be able to enjoy her dancing.

Answer 7

I'm 15 and dance a lot, but have never had signs of anorexia or any other eating disorder. If anything, I eat more then most of my other friends! Just because you're daughter loves to dance, doesn't mean she will develop an eating disorder. I never have!

Answer 8

Anorexia indicators: a million. Refusial to mantain a healthful bodyweight. 2. An severe concern of gaining weight. 3. A distorted physique image. the two Anorexia & Bulimia are Binge ingesting subject concerns. They improve for a reason.

Answer 9

Something that helps is to insist that she eat. also tell her that she can't compete(or even just dance) unless she eats healthily and keeps it down.

Going through my head was that every other girl in the room was skinnier than I was and that I would not be able to dance as well and that nobody would like me unless I lost weight.


another thing is that she could just be working really hard and be stressed, after all it is competetition season, I know that normally I lose between 15 and 30 pounds every year during competetion season even though, I gain it back during the off months( we have a required 2 months off after competing every year) so overall I stay healthy, I just get really stressed and busy during the end of winter and spring.

If you want to know more, feel free to email me.

Answer 10

No, I don't think so. But - none of us think so, unless we were diagnosed with anorexia. I think it would be best if you learn what anorexia is, what makes it a disorder and what behaviour is anorexia and what is just being concious of what you eat.

When I was 14 I was concerned (not obsessed) with my weight because I just quit swimming team and putting on weight was an issue for me because I changed my exersise regimen and my body was changing too and every girl in my class was obsessed with weight and talking about it all the time. I ate all the normal food at normal times (breakfast, lunch, dinner) but I decided to eat less and not eat sugary snacks. It drove me crazy when my mom or my grandpa tried to feed me some more, or they made any comments that I need to put on more weight. Sometimes they made me feel like screaming because it felt like they want me to be fat and ugly and not wishing me well. Particularly I didn't feel like listening to those family members who were overweight, this actually what helped me to dismiss their comments, because I felt like they know nothing about weight anyway.

You shouldn't tell her that she needs to put on more weight, even if you think this is the case. Saying that achieves exactly nothing or the opposite of what you want. It probably makes her feel like she's deficient in her mom's eyes, also makes her feel like you don't love her because you want her to be fatter. She can't stand the thought of becoming heavier because it is detrimental to her dacning. If you think there is a concern of eating disorders - approach it from a different angle. Anorexia is a desease. She needs to be healthy in order to achieve her best.