title: Weight control methods in high school wrestlers.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Masland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D014952:Wrestling