Identifying high-school dance students who will develop an eating disorder: a 1-year prospective study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sports Medicine
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Eating disorders (EDs) pose significant risks to adolescent health.
• Female dance students are a population with a high prevalence of EDs.
• Understanding ED development and risk factors in this group is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the one-year incidence and recovery rates of EDs in female dance students.
• To identify risk factors associated with the development of EDs in this population.
• To evaluate the predictive utility of the Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE) for future ED development.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase survey was conducted among students in gifted dance programs at 12 high schools.
• 583 students completed baseline questionnaires, and 245 completed follow-up interviews.
• The Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh (BITE) was used to assess ED risk.

Main Results:

• Thirty-five females developed a new ED over the one-year study period.
• Less than half of baseline ED cases recovered by follow-up.
• Higher baseline BITE scores significantly increased the risk of developing an ED within one year.

Conclusions:

• Middle adolescence is a critical period for ED development among dance students.
• The 10-item BITE questionnaire can effectively identify at-risk individuals.
• Early intervention programs targeting adolescent dance students are recommended.