Body mass index, nutritional knowledge, and eating attitudes in dancer and non-dancer students

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional comparative study examined differences in body mass index (BMI), nutritional knowledge, and eating behaviors between dancer and non-dancer university students. Given the physical and aesthetic demands of dance, understanding potential differences in health-related characteristics in this population is of particular importance. METHODS: Seventy female undergraduates (35 dancers and 35 non-dancers, aged 17-22 years) were recruited. Height, weight, and BMI were measured using the InBody 970 analyzer. Nutritional knowledge was assessed using the Chinese version of the General Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire (C-GNKQ), and disordered eating risk was evaluated using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26)©. Group differences were analyzed using independent t-tests, with effect sizes (Cohen's d) calculated to estimate the magnitude of differences. RESULTS: Dancers were significantly taller than non-dancers (P = 0.003, d = 0.74) and had a lower BMI (P = 0.023, d = 0.82). No statistically significant difference was observed in overall C-GNKQ scores (P = 0.128, d = 0.37), although dancers scored higher in the dietary knowledge subscale (P = 0.037, d = 0.52). EAT-26© scores were higher in dancers, but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.147, d = 0.35). Additional Spearman correlation analyses revealed no significant associations among BMI, C-GNKQ scores, and EAT-26© scores (P > 0.05).