Menstrual Dysfunction, Eating Behaviors, and Injury Prevalence in Collegiate Dancers

Introduction: A higher prevalence of menstrual dysfunction (MD) is reported in active women compared to the general population. This is particularly true for those in activities with an aesthetic element, such as dance. This physiological dysfunction, often indicative of maladaptive eating and exercise behaviors, results in detrimental effects on health and performance. The purpose of this study was to examine MD among collegiate dancers and report whether differences exist in body mass index (BMI), training exposure, eating behaviors, body image, and injury related to the presence of MD. Methods: A self-administered online questionnaire was used to inquire about menstrual status, training exposure, concerns with body shape, eating behaviors and injury. Results: The sample included 232 female collegiate dancers, with 50.4% reporting some form of MD. Between dancers who reported MD and those who did not (NMD), significant differences (P < .05) were found in concerns with body shape (MD 54 ± 20.2 vs NMD 46.4 ± 17.6), eating behaviors (MD 15.3 ± 12 vs NMD 9.1 ± 8.8), perceived energy availability (P < .05, V = 0.167), total injuries (MD 2 ± 1.5 vs NMD 1.6 ± 1.5), and severity of injuries (MD 7 ± 10.7 vs NMD 2.8 ± 5.4). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding BMI, years of dancing, training exposure, professional eating disorder diagnosis, injury type, or injury recurrence. Conclusions: Because of the negative effects of the underlying physiological dysfunction represented by MD, the authors argue that education and support are essential to promote the health and performance of female collegiate dancers.