How I am Celebrating Eating Disorders Awareness Week

February is Eating Disorders Awareness Month, and there has been quite a bit floating around the blogosphere with respect to this poignant topic in the dance community.

It’s just too bad that we are still faced with a serious problem when it comes to dancers and eating disorders, but the fact that the community is now talking more open and honestly about them is a step in the right direction.

Tiffany at Dancing Branflakes always has refreshingly honest insight on body image, and she recently fell into a new and inspiring fitness regime that readers can follow on her blog and on Instagram.  But like anything else, even exercise shouldn’t be taken to an extreme – as explained by The Healthy Dancer.  Personal Trainer Monika Volkmar (and my new Canadian BFF) shared her personal story about disordered eating early in the month, and published a few anonymous letters from readers wishing to share their experiences.  Her blog at The Dance Training Project is also where I shared my own story.

Reading about this very real problem throughout the month brought a couple of things to my attention:

  • The resources available specifically for dancers with disordered eating are seriously lacking, and I’m guilty of this too.  Art Intercepts is no hero; the page on ankle sprain is nearly three times the length of the page on eating disorders.*
  • The reason for this?  Maybe part of it is lack of education and reliable resources.  But the other part is that it’s still not entirely ok to talk about eating disorders in the dance community.  Though it’s become unacceptable to force dancers to starve themselves, it’s still not okay to be fat, or even average.  Dancers weigh approximately 15% below the national average, and that gap is growing along with the average America person (another problem entirely).

Sometimes I think I’m not far enough removed from the topic personally to help other dancers…

but it’s not about me anymore.  

When I told my story for The Dance Training Project, Monika asked me if I wanted to remain anonymous. While I’m comfortable with readers knowing that the “fat ballerina” on the internet is me, it occurred to me that telling all could be injurious to certain individuals who perpetuated the problem.  At this point, frankly, I’m no more or less concerned about them than they were about me or my health.  But I digress…

Here’s an idea:

Now that I’ve gone through the catharsis of full disclosure, I’d like to start focusing on solutions rather than case studies.  Let’s start showing dancers not only signs and symptoms of eating disorders, but signs and symptoms of what a healthy, strong, confident dancer looks like.

The Healthy Dancer offered up a nice summary of what healthy eating should look like this month, and this part especially stood out to me:

Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating.

389680_10150995263756079_267182972_nAs I write this, I’m sitting in a cafe eating grilled chicken, broccoli, and tomato slices with a cup of coffee.  I’m a healthy, active, muscular person, who sometimes has a run in with pie.  And part of the healing process is forgiving myself for the pie, forgiving myself for my destructive past, and forgiving the accomplices to my disordered behaviors.

How am I celebrating Eating Disorders Awareness Week this year?  

By sharing my experiences openly and honestly, without fear of judgement or retaliation, by trying to help the dance community move in a more positive direction, and, later, by treating myself to a slice of pie.

 

In recognition of the need for additional resources regarding dancer health and nutrition, I’m committed to building a section of the site devoted to reliable resources on this topic.  Health professionals willing to contribute to this effort are asked to please contact me.

Author: Lauren Warnecke

Lauren Warnecke is a reporter for NPR affiliate station WGLT and freelance arts and culture critic, primarily reviewing dance for the Chicago Tribune. Lauren enjoys cooking, cycling and attempting to grow things in her backyard. She lives in central Illinois.