More than three quarters of high school wrestlers have engaged in dehydration to lose weight during the regular wrestling season, according to research reported by Vanderbilt University. Although this behavior can provide a competitive edge, athletes who use these methods risk more than just their win-loss record.
Why Dehydrate?
Wrestling competition is divided into weight classes, intended to ensure safety and fairness during play. If a wrestler can lose enough water weight to qualify for a lower weight class, he will be wrestling against naturally smaller opponents. This can give him an advantage -- unless, of course, his opponent is applying the same tactic.
Performance Dangers
One risk of dehydration weight loss is immediate and important in wrestling circles. Sufficient hydration is vital to your muscular endurance, reaction speed and ability to apply skill and tactics in the ring. Although most matches give you a few hours between weigh-in and match time, that's not enough for your body to fully dehydrate from several days of "cutting weight." Dehydration means you're wrestling below your peak form.
Physical Dangers
In 1997, three college wrestlers died in a 90-day period as a direct result of aggressive weight cutting. Even when dehydration doesn't kill, it puts an athlete at risk of symptoms including irritability, anxiety, loss of brain function and organ damage. This is because water is part of your body's basic functioning. Without it, your body ceases to be able to perform many of its basic functions.
Long-Term Dangers
Crash dieting, even for healthy-sounding reasons like competitive wrestling, is a form of eating disorder. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz of the Real Age movement, people with eating disorders in high school are at increased risk of suffering from unhealthy eating habits as adults. In other words, dehydration as a high school wrestler risks affecting you for years after you've finished your last match.
References
- Vanderbilt University; Weight Issues in Wrestling; Mike Viscardi
- Grapple Arts: Making Weight by Dehydration
- "You:The Owner's Manual"; Dr. Mehmet Oz & Dr. Michael Roizen; 2007
- "Coaching Wrestling Successfully"; Dan Gable; 1999
