Dancers constantly strive to perform with maximum energy—often with minimum weight gain. So it's no surprise if they sometimes run out of fuel. But if undereating occurs along with missed periods and low bone density, the combined effect can spell trouble. Known as the female athlete triad, it can lead to poor performance and bone injuries, like fractures.
Not consuming enough calories can leave your students with too little energy to support healthy bones. Unfortunately, the problem gets worse every year. "It's like a bone bank," says Dr. Elizabeth Matzkin, surgical director, women's musculoskeletal health, at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "If you're not building your bone density, that's a problem, because you're losing it after age 20 to 25."
Source: Dance Teacher
