About Wrestling & Rapid Weight Loss

College and high-school wrestling, like most combat sports, is divided into weight classes. Although this is intended to keep competition safe, in practice this can lead to dangerous methods of rapid weight loss. Wrestlers sometimes aim for a competitive advantage at the risk of their own health.

Weight Classes

Former Olympic judo coach Phil Porter says that size is a significant advantage in grappling sports like judo and wrestling. Further, a small athlete wrestling against a large athlete is at a greater risk of accidental injury. Because of these factors, wrestlers must weight at or below a specific weight on match day in order to compete. NCAA weight classes as of 2010 are at 125 lbs., 133 lbs., 141 lbs., 149 lbs., 157 lbs., 165 lbs., 174 lbs., 184 lbs., 197 lbs. and 285 lbs. Oregon-based wrestling coach Andy Brick notes that high school competition often includes some smaller weight classes in the 97 to 120 lb. range.

Why Cut Weight?

In theory, weight classes pit wrestlers of similar size and strength against each other. However, a wrestler who sheds enough fat and water weight to wrestle below hid natural body weight will be stronger and more massive than opponents who don't "cut weight." Brick reports that in some conferences, especially highly competitive regions, this practice is so common that wrestlers who don't cut weight find themselves at an unfair disadvantage.

Methods

Some wrestlers maintain weight through a healthy combination of diet and exercise. However, Vanderbilt University psychology researcher reports that 3/4 of wrestlers have engaged in frequent fasting or severe fluid restriction in order to lose weight. A smaller, but still significant, percentage have used more extreme methods, including working out in a sauna, taking diuretics and laxatives, or self-induced vomiting.

Short-Term Risks

According to MayoClinic.com, extreme weight loss methods can pose immediate risks to the wrestlers engaging in them. These risks include dehydration, heat stroke, low blood sugar, fainting and malnutrition or nutritional imbalances. A wrestler using rapid weight loss techniques should do so only under qualified supervision in order to avoid these risks.

Long-Term Risks

Information at Eating Disorders Help Guide lists long-term physical and psychological deaths from extreme weight loss methods used by wrestlers. Physical risks include digestive disorders, organ damage and even death. Some wrestlers who got in the habit of unhealthy weight loss during competition grow into adults with eating disorders including compulsive eating, food addiction, bulimia and anorexia.