Reprinted from Eating Disorders Review
September/October 2003 Volume 14, Number 5
©2003 Gürze Books
Five years ago, after three collegiate wrestlers died while trying to “cut,” or lose, weight, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) developed new rules designed to curb extreme weight loss efforts among college wrestlers. The new rules added 6 lb to every weight class, moved weigh-ins closer to the start of each competition, and established a minimum wrestling weight based on body fat composition at the beginning of the season. In addition, each wrestler had 3 months to meet his competitive weight.
The NCAA’s weight-control rules seem to have had a slight but positive effect upon extreme weight measures among collegiate wrestlers, according to the results of a recent survey (Int J Sport Exerc Metab 2003; 13:29). Drs. Robert A. Opplinger, Suzanne A. Nelson-Steen and James R. Scott of Iowa City, IA, conducted a survey among 47 Division I, II, and III schools to determine if the rules had made an impact upon harmful weight-cutting methods. The results were based on the extent of weight loss, information on weight-cutting methods, and assessment of eating behaviors elated to standard criteria for bulimia nervosa.
Results: Some Improvement Seen
From the 741 survey responses they received, the authors determined that the most weight lost during the season was 5.3 kg, or 6.9%, of body weight. Weekly weight losses averaged 4.3% of body weight. The most common methods used for taking off pounds included gradual loss through dieting (27.6%), and increased levels of exercise (75.2%). Unfortunately, the authors found that some of the old extreme weight loss methods were still being used by wrestlers: 55% fasted, 28% used saunas to steam weight off, and 28% used rubber/plastic suits to sweat off pounds. Five of the 741 wrestlers who responded met the criteria for bulimia nervosa.
Coaches and fellow wrestlers were credited with changing harmful weight-loss practices, and 40% of the wrestlers said they were influenced by the NCAA rules. Compared with high school students, the collegiate wrestlers still showed more extreme weight control behaviors, but less extreme measures than were common among collegiate wrestlers during the 1980s.
Why do wrestlers use extreme methods to lose weight?
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, athletes often believe that losing weight will improve their chances of winning. Ironically, weight-cutting may impair their performance and endanger their health. The combination of food restriction and fluid deprivation creates an adverse physiologic effect on the body, often leaving the wrestler too weak to compete. Wrestlers also may justify their choice of weight class with the belief that they need to lose excess body fat. However, studies show that in the off-season, high school wrestlers have body fat levels in the 8% to 11% range, well below that of their peers, who average 15% body fat. In the wrestling season, wrestlers typically have body fat levels of 6% to 7%.
Dehydration caused by sweating in a sauna or rubber suit, use of laxatives, and forced vomiting contribute to loss of electrolytes as well as water. Wrestlers hope to replenish body fluids, electrolytes and glycogen in the brief time between weigh-ins and the competition. However, replenishing body fluids may take 24 to 48 hours, muscle glycogen replenishment may take 72 hours, and replacing lean tissue may take even longer. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that male athletes 16 years and younger with body fat below 7% and those over 16 with a body fat lower than 5% get medical clearance before they are allowed to compete.
The NCAA and the American College of Sports Medicine both urge greater cooperation among coaches, exercise scientists, physicians, dietitians, and wrestlers to use research and education to determine the best medically sound system for selecting a weight class. Their hope is that harmful weight loss methods will one day be a thing of the past among collegiate wrestlers.
"Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders Review"" Septemba 2003: ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders Review"" Septemba 2003: ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders Review"" Septemba 2003: ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders Review"" Septemba 2003: ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders Review"" Septemba 2003: ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders Review"" Septemba 2003: ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika jarida la ""Eating Disorders.""" Sheria mpya ziliongeza 6 lbs kwa kila darasa la uzito, zilihamisha uzito karibu na mwanzo wa kila mashindano, na kuanzisha uzito wa chini wa mapigano kulingana na muundo wa mafuta ya mwili mwanzoni mwa msimu. Kwa kuongezea, kila mpiganaji alikuwa na miezi mitatu ya kufikia uzito wake wa ushindani. Sheria za NCAA za kudhibiti uzito zinaonekana kuwa na athari ndogo lakini chanya juu ya vipimo vya uzito wa juu kati ya wapiganaji wa chuo kikuu, kulingana na matokeo ya uchunguzi wa hivi karibuni (IntJ Sport Exerc Metab 2003; 13:29). Daktari. Robert A. Oplinger, Suzanne A. Nelson-Steen na James R. Scott wa Iowa City, Iowa, walifanya uchunguzi kati ya shule 47 za Idara ya Kwanza, ya Pili, na ya Tatu ili kuamua kama sheria hizo zilikuwa na athari juu ya mbinu zenye kudhuru za kupunguza uzito. Matokeo ya utafiti huo yalitegemea kiwango cha kupoteza uzito, habari kuhusu mbinu za kupunguza uzito, na tathmini ya tabia za kula kulingana na vigezo vya kawaida vya bulimia nervosa. Katika utafiti huo, walipata majibu ya 741 ya utafiti waliopokea, na waliamua kwamba uzito uliopotea zaidi wakati wa msimu huo ulikuwa 5.3 kg, au 6.9% ya uzito wa mwili. Kwa wastani, kupoteza uzito kwa wiki ni 4.3% ya uzito wa mwili. Njia za kawaida za kupunguza uzito ni pamoja na kupoteza uzito hatua kwa hatua kupitia mlo (27.6%) na kuongeza viwango vya mazoezi (75.2%). Kwa bahati mbaya, watafiti walipata kwamba baadhi ya mbinu za zamani za kupoteza uzito bado zilikuwa zinatumiwa na wapiganaji: 55% walifunga, 28% walitumia sauna ili kupunguza uzito, na 28% walitumia suti za mpira au plastiki ili kupunguza uzito. Katika mashindano hayo, wanamichezo 54 walioshiriki walipatikana na dalili za ugonjwa wa bulimia nervosa. Mazoezi ya kupigana na wapiganaji wenzake yalionekana kuwa na athari kubwa kwa kupunguza uzito, na 40% ya wapiganaji walisema waliathiriwa na sheria za NCAA. Kwa kulinganisha na wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari, wapiganaji wa chuo bado walionyesha tabia za kudhibiti uzito zaidi, lakini hatua za chini za kupita kiasi kuliko zilivyokuwa za kawaida kati ya wapiganaji wa chuo katika miaka ya 1980. Kwa nini wapiganaji wa ngumi hutumia mbinu mbaya sana ili kupunguza uzito? Kulingana na Chuo cha Tiba ya Michezo cha Marekani, mara nyingi wanariadha huamini kwamba kupoteza uzito kutaongeza nafasi zao za kushinda. Kwa kushangaza, kupunguza uzito kunaweza kudhoofisha utendaji wao na kuhatarisha afya yao. Mchanganyiko wa vikwazo vya chakula na ukosefu wa maji huunda athari mbaya ya kisaikolojia kwenye mwili, mara nyingi kumwacha mpiganaji dhaifu sana kushindana. Wapiganaji pia wanaweza kuhalalisha uchaguzi wao wa darasa la uzito kwa imani kwamba wanahitaji kupoteza mafuta ya ziada ya mwili. Hata hivyo, utafiti unaonyesha kwamba katika msimu wa off-mwaka, high school wrestlers kuwa na viwango vya mafuta ya mwili katika 8% hadi 11% mbalimbali, chini sana ya kwamba ya wenzao, ambao wastani 15% mafuta ya mwili. Katika msimu wa mapigano, wapiganaji wa kupigana kwa kawaida huwa na viwango vya mafuta ya mwili vya 6% hadi 7%. Ukosefu wa maji mwilini unaosababishwa na kuota jasho katika sauna au suti ya mpira, kutumia dawa za kuondoa uvimbe, na kutapika kwa nguvu huchangia kupoteza elektroni na maji. Wapiganaji wanatarajia kujaza maji ya mwili, electrolytes na glycogen katika muda mfupi kati ya kupima na mashindano. Hata hivyo, kuongeza kiasi cha maji mwilini kunaweza kuchukua masaa 24 hadi 48, kuongeza kiasi cha glycogen kwenye misuli kunaweza kuchukua masaa 72, na kuongeza kiasi cha tishu ya mwili inaweza kuchukua muda mrefu zaidi. Chuo cha Tiba ya Michezo cha Marekani (ACSM) kinapendekeza kwamba wanariadha wa kiume wenye umri wa miaka 16 na chini na mafuta ya mwili chini ya 7% na wale wenye umri wa miaka 16 na zaidi na mafuta ya mwili chini ya 5% kupata ruhusa ya matibabu kabla ya kuruhusiwa kushindana. NCAA na Chuo cha Marekani cha Tiba ya Michezo wote wanahimiza ushirikiano mkubwa kati ya makocha, wanasayansi wa mazoezi, madaktari, wataalamu wa lishe, na wapiganaji kutumia utafiti na elimu kuamua mfumo bora wa matibabu kwa kuchagua darasa la uzito. Wanatumaini kwamba siku moja mbinu zenye kudhuru za kupunguza uzito zitakuwa mambo ya zamani miongoni mwa wapiganaji wa chuo kikuu.