Weight control methods in high school wrestlers

Severe weight control methods used by high school wrestlers have caused concern about these students' growth and athletic performance. There are minimal prevalence data on a few methods of weight control used by wrestlers and no information on the relationship to body fat measurements. Weight control methods and the percent body fat of wrestlers (n = 49) were compared to competitive squash players (n = 20) and noncompetitive jogging and fitness students (n = 38) at an independent secondary school. Wrestlers used dieting (p = 0.0002), binging (p = 0.026, vomiting (p = 0.046), sweating (p = 0.0001), and fluid restriction to less than 2 cups/day (p = 0.0014) significantly more often than controls (squash players and jogging/fitness students). There was no difference between the wrestlers' and controls' use of fasting (p = 0.5) or exercising (p = 0.1). Neither group reported using a diuretic or laxative during the sports seasons. Although the wrestlers' percent body fat was lower than controls (mean for wrestlers = 10.3 +/- 3.5%, mean for controls = 12.4 +/- 3.7%, p = 0.01), wrestlers perceived their mean ideal weight to be less than their present weight (wrestlers = -1.56 +/- 6.20 lb, controls = +1.92 +/- 9.49 lb, p = 0.03). The methods of weight control practiced could potentially impair an adolescent's growth and development as well as increase the risk of dehydration or electrolyte imbalance during competition.