Risk Of Eating Disorders And Menstrual Dysfunctions Among Female Dance Students In Three Colleges Of Beijing

[Objective]:To investigate the risk of eating disorders and the prevalence of menstrual dysfunction among female dance students in three colleges of Beijing, and then compare to ordinary female college students (non-dancers and non-athletes). The factors associated with eating disorders and menstrual dysfunction were also studied.[Methods]:The subjects were recruited from three colleges of Beijing. A total of 447 female dance students and 304 female non-dancers and non-athletes participated in this study. The participators were asked to finish the questionnaires:demographics questionnaire with additional specific questions, Eating Disorder Inventory-3 (EDI-3), menstrual history questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package of for the Social Sciences version 16.0 (SPSS 16.0). The two independent sample t tests were used to compare differences of continuous variables between two groups. The Pearson Chi-square tests were used to compare the categorical data between two groups. And the Binary Logistic Regression was applied to evaluate potential risk factors of eating disorders.[Results]:(1) The Chinese version of Eating Disorder Inventory-3 had acceptable level of internal consistency and structure validity. It could be used as a believable and effective method to evaluate behavior and psychological features of eating disorders. (2) The risk of eating disorders was evaluated according to the standard of EDI-3 RF.60.9%of female dance student were at high risk to develop an eating disorder, but just 29.3% of non-dancers had high risk, which is significantly different from dance students. Four variables of BMI, range of previous weight lost, score of BD and the value of actual weigh distract ideal were related to eating disorders. However, training time per week and age of starting training had little correlation with the risk of eating disorders. (3) A significant difference was found between the age of menarche of the two groups. The average age of menarche of dance student was 13.43 years old, about three months later than non-dancers. Compared to dance students training after menarche, the average age of menarche of dance students who trained before menarche was delayed for more than one year. (4) 32.0% of dance students had amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea before, which was significantly different from the prevalence of non-dancers. (5) Starting training before menarche could result in delayed menarche, amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea.[Conclusions]:(1) College female students were at high risk for developing eating disorders. The risk of dance students was much greater than non-dancers. (2) BMI, range of previous weight lost and dissatisfaction with body shape and weight were associated with the risk of eating disorders. (3) Training time per week and total specific training time had no influence to eating disorders and menstrual dysfunctions. But age of starting training would cause delayed menarche, amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea.