Weight Loss Methods Of High School Wrestlers - Brief Article

Nutrition Research Newsletter, August, 2001 by R. Kiningham, D. Gorenflo

Competitive wrestlers traditionally wrestle at the lowest weight class possible in order to gain a competitive advantage. The pressure to be at a low weight before a match has led to the common practice of cutting a relatively large amount of weight in a short period of time, primarily through dehydration. The American College of Sports Medicine published a position statement entitled "Weight Loss in Wrestlers," which called for the enactment of roles that would limit weight loss among wrestlers. Several state high school athletic associations have proposed roles that establish a minimum wrestling weight based on measured body fat and limit the amount of weight that can be lost each week. However, at present, only four states have mandatory weight standards based on percentage body fat, One of the arguments used against the implementation of such weight monitoring programs is that the cost is too great to address a problem that occurs in a small minority of wrestlers. The purpose of the present study was to determine the overall prevalence of potentially harmful weight loss practices among Michigan high school wrestlers at all levels of success and competition.

A two-page survey was distributed 2.5 months into the wrestling season, by Michigan High School Athletic Association, to the athletic directors and coaches at each high school in Michigan with a wrestling program. Neither the school nor the wrestlers' names were included in the survey, and anonymity was assured to the coaches and the wrestlers. Responses were received from 156 of the schools, for a response rate of ~35%. A total of 2532 wrestlers completed the survey, with an average age of 16 years.

The instrument began by asking wrestlers their weight on the first day of practice. Then wrestlers were asked to estimate how their weight would change by the end of the wrestling season. A series of questions asked for a report of their greatest weight in the past 12 months, the most weight lost in the 5 days before a match, the longest time without food before a match, and they age at which they began cutting weight for wrestling. The wrestlers were asked to indicate how often they used the following weight-loss methods: gradual dieting, restricting food, fasting, restricting fluids, increasing exercise, using heated wresting rooms, saunas, rubber/plastic suits, spilling, laxatives, diet pills, diuretics, enemas, and vomiting to lose weight.

One-third of the respondents stated that they never lost weight for wrestling. Those who had cut weight started at an average of 14 yr. When asked about estimated weight change during the wrestling season, 48% estimated that they would lose weight; 23% estimated no weight change, and 29% estimated that they would gain weight. A comparison of the first day of practice weight to the weight at the time of the survey revealed that wrestlers had lost an average of 6 pounds, or 3% of initial body weight. Over 50% of wrestlers had lost more than 5 pounds, and 5% had lost at least 20 pounds at that point during the season. The most weight wrestlers lost in the 5 d before a match averaged 6 pounds, and the longest fast before a match averaged 12 hr. Nearly one of four wrestlers restricted food at least 3-4 times per week. Fifty-eight wrestlers reported vomiting at least weekly to lose weight, while an additional 2% indicated that they took diet pills, diuretics, and/or laxatives at least weekly. Seventy-two percent of wrestlers engaged in at least one, 52% used at least two, and 12% used at least five potentially harmful weight-loss methods each week during wrestling season.

The data in the current study indicates that potentially harmful weight-loss practices are common at all levels of competition and not limited to a small number of"elite" wrestlers. There was an association found between the number of matches wrestled and the frequency of weight loss behaviors. Weight-cycling was determined to be common among Michigan high school wrestlers, and this rapid dehydration and fasting is known to adversely effect cardiovascular function, thermal regulation, renal function, and electrolyte balance. The researchers conclude that programs designed to decrease the use of these weight-cycling methods need to recognize the cultural norm in wrestling of frequent rapid weight loss and be prepared that altering these behaviors will require a unified effort by coaches, administrators, parents, and wrestlers throughout the sport.

R. Kiningham, D. Gorenflo. Weight loss methods of high school wrestlers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 33(5):810-813 (May 200]) [Correspondence: Robert B. Kiningham, M.D., University of Michigan Dept of Family Medicine, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Room L2003, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0239. E-mail: rkiningh@umich.edu].