Marquart, Leonard F., and Jeffery Sobal.

"Weight Loss Beliefs, Practices and Support Systems for High

School Wrestlers." Journal of Adolescent Health 15.5 (1994): 410-15. Academic Search Complete. Web.
15 Sept. 2014.
Shane Miller
ENGL- 1102

Page #

Source Notes

#410 Despite repeated warnings by medical (1,2),

athletic(31, and nutrition/research groups @l-6),
wrestlers continue to use food restriction, fluid
deprivation, induced sweating, and purging
(diuretics, laxatives, vomiting) to compete in weight
classes below their preseason body weight (4-8).
This is often done in an attempt to gain a
competitive edge over their opponent.

#410 Contrary to the traditional view that

competing
in a lower weight class will improve wrestling
success, the use of rapid weight loss techniques can
have adverse effects on muscular strength (9-10),
aerobic power (10), anaerobic power (9), protein
nutritional status (111, body composition (6,9),
metabolism (121, thermoregulation (13,141 nutrient
intake (5,11,15), and wrestling performance tests
(16).

First Thoughts
This statement makes it seem like preseason
weight is the correct weight to compete at
regardless of the physical build of the athlete or
the diet in the offseason.

If done correctly competing in a lower weight

can yield advantages however this statement is
correct that rapid techniques hurt more than
help. Explore the sources mentioned here for
more relevant data

411-Adolescent wrestlers typically do not follow a

planned weight management program. They
commonly engage in frequent cycles of rapid weight
reduction and regain rather than achieving gradual
weight loss and maintaining a constant body weight
throughout the competitive season.

This has changed at least in regulations by the

NFHS. There is an established gradual weight
reduction program. However there is
significant opportunities to still have rapid loss
and gain because of lacking oversight between
competition weigh ins.

411-Wrestlers most often rely upon coaches and

other wrestlers for weight loss advice, with
physicians infrequently consulted

While I know this statement to be true from the

three different teams I have personally coached
I would like to know if other coaches have
observed this and if parents are aware of the
role a physician can play in weight loss

Marquart, Leonard F., and Jeffery Sobal. "Weight Loss Beliefs, Practices and Support Systems for High
School Wrestlers." Journal of Adolescent Health 15.5 (1994): 410-15. Academic Search Complete. Web.
15 Sept. 2014.
Shane Miller
ENGL- 1102
411-Unfortunately, coaches may only provide
general advice (such as decrease calories, cut
back intake, eat in moderation) with no specific
recommendations regarding diet (5).

High school coaches in North Carolina are

given no formal instruction regarding diet and
weight management. Possible avenue of
correction to my original inquiry question

411-When asked whether they maintained a constant

body weight throughout the season, 34% (65)
reported they always did, 62% (120) sometimes
did, and 4% (8) stated they never did.

This statement is surprisingly close to what I

see in my own teams here in North Carolina
despite the survey being done in New York

411-Responses to the question regarding the number

of days before a match wrestlers began losing weight
was 4.0 + or- 2.1 days, with over half beginning their
weight loss three days or less before a match.

This is not representative of what I see. I need

to ask a question in the same area in my
interviews to confirm my perceptions

413-The people who helped plan weight loss were: coaches

(44%) nobody (42%), parents (36%), teammates
(35%), trainers (11%), doctors (7%), and dietitians
(3%).

Coaches being the primary source of weight

loss information and requiring no formal
training presents a problem in the system.
Parents being the secondary highest referenced
outside source with no guidance also poses
problems for both wrestlers health and the
competitive level of the sport.

Marquart, Leonard F., and Jeffery Sobal. "Weight Loss Beliefs, Practices and Support Systems for High
School Wrestlers." Journal of Adolescent Health 15.5 (1994): 410-15. Academic Search Complete. Web.
15 Sept. 2014.
Shane Miller
ENGL- 1102
413-Forty-four percent of these wrestlers reported
that coaches helped plan weight loss, 60% stated
coaches provided very accurate information, and
64% said that coaches were very important in
their decision to make weight. Because of their special
role with wrestlers, coaches offer a strategic
point of intervention for influencing their athletes
weight loss practices.

Requiring coaches to take some form of

nutritional instruction would have a huge
impact based on these numbers

413-There is also a need to evaluate the nutrition

knowledge, attitudes and weight loss practices
recommended by high school wrestling coaches.

Completely agree. I've sought out knowledge

on my own to make my wrestlers better having
a source given to me in earlier years would
have made that process not trial and error.

413-Parents could be a potential influence in the

weight loss process since they typically buy, prepare
and serve food at home. The problem is that adolescents
do not always perceive their parents as sources of
information.

Increasing direct communication between

coaches and parents is key to success with
proper weight loss

414-Wrestling practice (physical activity) is

the primary means for weight loss.

As a coach I disagree with this statement .

Wrestling practice should be to improve
technique. when your goal in practice is to cut
weight you lose focus of the things required to
win which is the whole point for the weight
loss