Weight Cycling Practices and Long-term Health Conditions in a Sample of Former Wrestlers and Other Collegiate Athletes.

Weight cycling (repeated episodes of weight loss and regain) has been shown to reduce the resting metabolic rate in some chronic dieters. Concerns have been raised that wrestlers' repeated patterns of weight loss and gain may reduce metabolic rates and increase long-term health risks. We conducted this study to assess previous weight loss practices, current body weight, and incidence of chronic disease in a sample of male athletes who earned athletic letters in intercollegiate sports at the University of Wisconsin-Madison between 1950 and 1988. Survey questionnaires were mailed to 79 ex-wrestlers and 153 nonwrestling athletes, with responses from 60 wrestlers (76%) and 104 nonwrestlers (68%). We found no significant differences in weight gained after graduation (10.2 pounds for wrestlers and 8.6 pounds for nonwrestling athletes), current exercise practices, incidence of chronic disease, prevalence of obesity, and current dieting rates in this sample of former college athletes. Collegiate wrestlers gained an average of 16 pounds during the off-season. Most wrestlers reported that they lost between 3 and 11 pounds per match and that they used a combination of five or more weight loss techniques. Most frequently reported techniques included increasing exercise, restricting food, exercising in a hot environment, using a steam room or sauna, restricting fluids, and exercising in a rubber or plastic suit. Fewer wrestlers than nonwrestlers reported that they smoked tobacco. The health effects of changes in proportions of fat-free body mass after weight cycling were not addressed in this survey. The hypothesis that numerous cycles of weight loss and regain among wrestlers may result in long-term weight gain and/or increased risk of chronic disease was not supported by the results of this survey.