Introduction
The prevalence of eating disorders among athletes is becoming a progressively critical public health concern. In particular, people who participate in aesthetic sports, such as ballet or figure skating, are more likely to develop malnutrition-related habits than athletes in performance sports and the general population. Therefore, it is crucial to continue research on the topic and propose effective strategies to help sportspeople adopt healthy eating habits.
Arguments
The first critical argument in this discussion is the difference between aesthetic and performance sports. Recent research has shown that people who engage in “lean” sports are statistically more likely to overeat than athletes in “non-lean” sports (Mancine et al., 2020, p. 8). In other words, the more people care about weight in their performance, the more likely they are to develop eating disorders.
Secondly, some aesthetic sports, including ballet, have unique norms and practices. Silverii et al. (2022) found that perfectionism is prevalent among ballet dancers and is directly related to the drive for thinness. Therefore, athletes in ballet and figure skating are particularly prone to malnutrition.
Thirdly, there is a correlation between eating disorders and performance levels. For instance, recent research has found that amateur ballet dancers show lower levels of body distortion than elite athletes (de Medeiros Eufrásio et al., 2021). At the same time, people are more likely to take ballet seriously compared to conventional gym training.
Fourthly, the risk of developing malnutrition increases with external stress. In a recent survey, most elite athletes highlighted the impact of social pressure and performance anxiety on their eating habits (Stoyel et al., 2021). Hence, it is critical to decrease this stress to mitigate the prevalence of malnutrition.
Conclusion
Summing up, the problem of eating disorders among athletes in aesthetic sports is critical, and changes are necessary. It is particularly significant to reduce external and internal pressure on sportspeople in these activities to discourage malnutrition. Moreover, educating athletes in aesthetic sports on the importance of healthy nutrition and its impact on performance is essential. Following these recommendations, it is possible to make a positive change and reduce rates of eating disorders among athletes in lean sports.
References
de Medeiros Eufrásio, R. E., Ferreira, R. L. U., Leal, L. L. A., Avelino, E. B., da Costa Pelonha, R. N., da Cruz Carvalho, M. C., Torres, C., Praseres, A., Filho, M., Mota, A., Nunes, A., Ferreira, D., Vale, S., & Maciel, B. L. L. (2021). Amateur ballet practicing, body image and eating behaviors: A comparative study of classical ballet dancers, gym users and sedentary women. Journal of Eating Disorders, 9(1).
Mancine, R. P., Gusfa, D. W., Moshrefi, A., & Kennedy, S. F. (2020). Prevalence of disordered eating in athletes categorized by emphasis on leanness and activity type –A systematic review. Journal of Eating Disorders, 8, 1-9.
Silverii, G. A., Benvenuti, F., Morandin, G., Ricca, V., Monami, M., Mannucci, E., & Rotella, F. (2022). Eating psychopathology in ballet dancers: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 27(2), 405-414.
Stoyel, H., Delderfield, R., Shanmuganathan-Felton, V., Stoyel, A., & Serpell, L. (2021). A qualitative exploration of sport and social pressures on elite athletes in relation to disordered eating. Frontiers in Psychology, 12.