Tag: eating disorder

Help! I Think My Friend Has an Eating Disorder

Nadine Kaslow, a psychologist who works with dancers at Atlanta Ballet, says one of the most common questions she’s asked is, “What should I do if I think my friend has an eating disorder?” Research shows that, compared to the general population, dancers are three times more likely to suffer from eating disorders. Experts agree […]

Starving Artist

Christina Ilisije in a recent performance of Kate Skarpetwoska’s A Stray’s Lullaby (by Masato Kuroda) I wish I could say I didn’t fulfill the dancer-with-an-eating-disorder cliché, but I can’t. My struggle started when I was a dance-crazed teenager, nitpicking more than just my technique in the mirror. As a type-A gal, I thought of losing […]

Battling Body Dysmorphia

  What you see isn’t always what you get: Dancers with body dysmorphic disorder have a distorted perception of their appearance. (Illustrations by Lealand Eve) When dance student Monica developed hips a few years ago, she began struggling with new insecurities. Now 15, Monica remembers staring unhappily at her body in the mirror. “Eventually, I […]