Menstrual Abnormalities, Nutritional Patterns, and Body Composition in Female Classical Ballet Dancers

Abstract

In brief: Classical ballet is a demanding discipline that until recently has been largely ignored by the medical and exercise communities. The authors studied the nutritional habits of 34 high-level classical ballet dancers during three days of a typical rehearsal week and found that they consumed only 71.6% of the recommended daily allowance for nutrients. Their average percent body fat was 16.9%. Many (17) had menstrual abnormalities, 15 had secondary amenorrhea, and 11 cited irregularities they felt were directly due to dancing. No statistical correlation could be found between the reported menstrual abnormalities and percent body fat or the age they began training.