Dietary intake and symptoms of anorexia nervosa in female university dancers.

This study was designed to measure and evaluate the dietary intake and symptoms of anorexia nervosa in female university dancers (no. = 21) and a control group of female university non-dancers (no. = 29). Three-day food records were analyzed for calories, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Symptoms of anorexia nervosa were determined through the use of an objective questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT). The percent of subjects who consumed less than two-thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for energy was significantly higher in the dance group (28.6% vs. 10.3%, p less than .005). Seventy percent of the total study population consumed less than two-thirds of the RDA for at least one nutrient, and 24% consumed less than two-thirds of the RDA for three or more nutrients. Thirty-three percent of the dancers and 13.8% of the controls scored in the range symptomatic of anorexia nervosa on the EAT, a difference that was statistically significant (p less than .005). The results indicate that both female university dancers and female university students may be at risk for nutrient deficiency and anorexia nervosa.