Physiological, Nutritional, and Training Profile of University Modern Dancers

Past studies have implicated the exercise demands, psychological stress, and the restrictive dietary practices of ballet dancers as risk factors for the medical problems commonly associated with this population. This article presents data concerning the medical, training, nutritional, and physiological profiles of 15 female dancers from a university modern dance program in order to assess their risk factors compared with those of ballet dancers. The modern dancers showed fewer medical problems but significant nutritional deficits, evidence of eating disorders, and low anaerobic and aerobic exercise capacities.