Does this Netflix series promote anorexia?

This week I made sure I had enough time to watch the first season of the Netflix docuseries about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders in one go. It's a joy to see all those super attractive and intelligent women dance so fantastically in sync. All the highs and lows come by, and we finally get a little more insight into the private lives of the women. The physically demanding work of a cheerleader apparently doesn't bring in enough money, and that's why they also work as orthodontists, accountants, and other very normal jobs. Life at the DCC, which is the lovely abbreviation they use for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, is central.

Now, all of that was enjoyable and I have only gained more respect for them, but there was also a storyline that shocked me, despite the fact that I wasn't really surprised. One of the women (Victoria, who has been with the DCC for the fourth year) shares that she has previously struggled with her weight and body image. And that's not so strange. They are already addressed about their bodies from the first audition. If there is one mini role to be seen, they are already asked if they are in shape, because ‘you have gained weight since last season’. Bizarre if you ask me; this show is actually the biggest motivation for me to become fitter myself.

As an excuse, Kelli, the big boss of the DCC, states that the women simply have to be in top condition. A healthy diet and a lot of exercise should therefore ensure that they are in their best shape. According to Kelli and her right-hand woman Jody, it is impossible to have even a minimal roll of fat with the combination of an extremely healthy lifestyle and a lot of exercise. And yet she says that they no longer look for a specific perfect body, but individually at each woman; at her body type and how she looks at her fittest. Despite this fuss, I am still a huge fan of the series, and I hope that a new season will come soon. I do hope that it will focus a little less on their bodies and a little more on their personalities and what they have achieved outside of the DCC.

Source: E!News