j_dalbar's Journal, 06 March 2016

I've been to a number of cheer competitions and some have food and some do not. I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with the anorexia culture sometimes found with dancers. The time was very early in the morning and many people eat before they go. Many people bring their own drinks and snacks. I think it depends on a lot of factors. 

Thanks Suzi161 -- I've got five years of cheer competition attendance under my belt but had never seen a dance competition before. Just found the difference interesting enough to wonder if it was typical and what drove it, so thanks for the perspective.  

I was a cheerleader in 8th grade. We went to nationals and won. As a young girl I did not notice any of these eating issues. When I was that young I signed up for cheerleading solely to workout and get in shape. Yea an 8th grading worrying about weight....the world is horrible to young girls! Anyway that's why I signed up. But I never noticed an anorexia culture. Even among my teammates. I think it has gotten worse for today's younger generations. I new about anorexia back then because schools taught us about it and the dangers of it. But I never felt I was in that culture. I think the pressure on girls has just been getting worse and worse over the years.