Body dissatisfaction and coexisting behaviors. Comparative study of adolescent and young women from the general population, dancers and women with an ED diagnosis

Abstract

Body dissatisfaction in adolescence is one of the factors predisposing to the development of eating disorders (ED). The dancers are a risk group for ideal physical characteristics and aspiration of “dominating her body" turning the body into a working tool and a midst of artistic expression. Objetive: To analyze the degree of body dissatisfaction and possible conditions associated behaviors in adolescent and young girls, comparing three groups: students (general population), dancer students and girls diagnosed with ED. Methods: We administered the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ ) to 566 female students: 247 of the general population, 175 were professional dancer students and 143 with a ED diagnosis. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed. Results and conclusions: The concern for the body image was moderate to extreme in 19.8% - 6.1% of the general population students and 17.7% - 9.7% in dancers. In the dance students, concern and dissatisfaction with their own body image can be increased reaching a clinically significant degree of concern, but are not derived from a high BMI.