Abstract
Self-reports of weight loss knowledge, attitudes, and methods in a sample of 125 high school wrestlers are described. These responses are compared to perceptions of 88 wrestlers’ parents regarding their son’s weight loss behaviors. Responses to survey questionnaires indicated that wrestlers were highly likely to deliberately lose weight for wrestling and that they most commonly used increased exercise, caloric restriction, and fluid restriction as weight loss techniques. Wrestlers reported use of extreme weight loss techniques (fasting, vomiting, diuretics) in higher proportions than the general adolescent male population, despite their reports of detrimental effects of such methods. Compared to their sons, parents significantly underestimated the use of extreme methods and were more realistic about the potential harmful effects of severe weight loss. Wrestlers and parents alike felt that weight loss is overemphasized in wrestling competition. These findings indicate a need for improved adult monitoring of high school wrestling programs.
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