Performers, We need to Talk about the Elephant in the Room

In the past (although unfortunately this is still happening in some spaces), our industry talked about diet in terms of deprivation. This is due to aesthetic ideals, especially for female-identifying actors and dancers, which can lead to weight pressures and eating disorders–both of which are directly related to depression and anxiety.

But what I am noticing now is that everyone is so afraid to speak about nutrition that it is not being addressed at all in most spaces. I believe this is short-sighted and harmful, and has resulted in a lack of education about the link between nutrition and mental health.

Nutrition is too often left out of the conversation around mental health and wellbeing, or is addressed at a surface level of, “just eat well.”

We are not “general population”

Performers work long and irregular hours, and are vulnerable to injury and stress. Not providing nutritional support to help them meet the energy demands of their heavy workload, is contributing to higher injury and sick rates, an inability to focus, and poor stress management.

In spite of these challenges that are unique to performers, our industry still insists on relying on the nutritional advice set by the NHS, which was written for general population.

People who sit at a desk from 9–5 do not have the same energy requirements as performers, and these differences need to be taken into account.

Nutritional advice and support for performers need to come from sources who know and understand what we do.

Not speaking about nutrition isn’t lowering the rates of eating disorders

In fact, the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ analysis of hospital data for eating disorders shows that admissions for eating disorders have increased by 84% in the last five years, reaching a total of 24,268 admissions. It also shows 11,049 more admissions in 2020/21 compared to 2015/16.

The truth is, if performers are not provided evidence-based information about nutrition in training or in their professional companies, they seek out this information elsewhere–often from celebrities and social media influencers.

As a result, they are far more likely to fall prey to fad diets and food restriction.

Telling someone to “eat well” is like telling someone to “be resilient”

I’ve noticed that in the spaces that do address nutrition, it tends to be surface level of “eat well,” where the how is missing.

It is not enough to tell someone to eat well. People don’t know what they don’t know. If a performer is unaware that the way they are eating is harmful, telling them to eat well won’t make a difference.

We don’t tell performers to just be resilient do we? In my experience, it is largely understood that performers need to learn and implement certain skills to help them become more resilient.

So why do we think it’s any different when it comes to nutrition?

Our industry is currently going to tremendous lengths to seek out more and more support around mental health and training around resilience, yet we are purposely skirting around the topic of nutrition, which by now, has an overwhelming amount of research that shows its direct link to our mental health and overall wellbeing.

Moving forward

We need to change our approach to nutrition. Instead of ignoring it because we are afraid, we need to create initiatives that educate performers on the link between nutrition and wellbeing, using evidence-based research.

Sports science has a lot to offer the performing arts in this regard. We need to lean into these advances and seek out information and support from people who know and understand the demands of our industry.

Artistry and science can coexist–in our industry, it is essential that they do.

Nutrition is a tool that can be utilised to increase energy, stamina, recovery, stress management, and focus.

It isn’t about deprivation. It is simply a tool–just like stretching, foam rolling, vocal warmups, and everything else performers use to help improve their performance.

More By Crystal Nicholls:

3 Reasons You Feel Drained at the End of Each Performance Week

The Truth About Calories For Performers

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