OSU research examines losing to win

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Wrestlers' dieting habits subject of nutrition study

by Abby Wambaugh, OSU Communications

 
(STILLWATER, OKLA -- Nov. 28, 2007) -- Athletes who excel in wrestling exhibit exceptional physical fitness, determination and discipline. However, pursuing a competitive advantage in wrestling may involve unhealthy eating habits and dramatic weight loss that can lead to a variety of problems.

Wrestlers, male athletes most susceptible to eating disorders, are at the center of an effort by Oklahoma State University assistant professor of nutritional sciences Lenka Humenikova to determine the extent of unhealthy dietary practices among high school athletes. Humenikova, a faculty member in OSU's College of Human Environmental Sciences and former OSU tennis player, realizes the need for healthy eating practices in sports.

"You would think athletes know a lot about nutrition, but unfortunately there are a lot of misconceptions out there," Humenikova said. "We targeted wrestlers because the sport is one of the few sports where males are extremely vulnerable to unhealthy weight control practices and, possibly, eating disorders."

Humenikova's study began last year with a pilot research project involving 24 male wrestlers between the ages of 14 and 18 from two Oklahoma high schools. The project is unique because it is focused on how changes in weight and body composition affect metabolic rate, and the participants are high school athletes rather than collegiate.

The researchers were actively supported by the schools' coaches, athletic trainers, the wrestlers themselves and their parents.

"Unhealthy dietary habits among wrestlers usually develop early in their lives and are likely to worsen in high school, and this is one reason why I wanted to look at high school students," Humenikova said. "The coaches and athletic trainers were very helpful and eager to participate in a study that aims to help reduce a serious problem."

According to Humenikova, adolescent wrestlers often learn from their peers dangerous, rapid weight loss methods such as intentional dehydration - including spitting, working out in sweat/rubber suits and generally avoiding liquids - starvation and cutting down essential nutrients like carbohydrates.

In 1997, the deaths of three collegiate wrestlers compelled the National Collegiate Wrestling Association to implement a new wrestling weight control plan. Recently adopted in a modified form by many high schools throughout the country, the new program states wrestlers cannot have less than 7 percent body fat and cannot lose more than 1.5 percent of their body weight per week. It also features a weight management plan and healthy weight loss practices as alternatives to drastic, unhealthy methods.

"The weight management plan is a great first step, but the question is how many wrestlers and coaches read and utilize it," Humenikova said.  

Humenikova and her research team monitored changes in body composition, body weight and resting metabolic rate in athletes before, during and after the 2006-07 wrestling season. The researchers used a DEXA machine, the current gold standard for body composition assessment, to measure body fat more accurately than the simple skin-fold method.

Humenikova is currently analyzing the data results and believes her assessment will further illustrate how dietary practices for the sake of a competitive edge can radically affect the health and nutritional status of wrestlers.

"I hope our research can help eliminate some misconceptions related to weight loss and dietary practices that exist among many high school as well as collegiate wrestlers," she said.