This is a touchy subject for me, but it should be everyone. I am a Registered Dietitian and a mom of a youth wrestler. I have been involved with high school wrestling for over 16 years helping our local team. There had been alot of cutting before I started helping and many poor eating habits pushed by coaches. That is why and how I got involved. A family member was wrestling and would eat little to nothing 2-3 days before a tournament. After involvement of education of coaches and wrestlers many changes happened. Wrestlers ended up stronger and had more endurance during matches. There is a reason for the body fat testing now. If it is done properly it does make a difference.
As far as Youth wrestling...even middle school students need nourishment. They are in their prime growing stage and needs calories for growth and brain development. It is funny to hear that "skipping a meal will not hurt anyone". Probably not, but you are limiting needed calories. Losing weight for wrestlers that are at an unhealthy weight is agreed, but that should be done over weeks. (by cutting out soft drinks and junk food and increasing fruits, vegetables, lean meat and fat free dairy). Weight loss at a young age of more than 1 pound a week should not be pushed without medical professionals involved. The majority of the youth wrestlers, (or should I say fathers) who I have noticed practicing cutting weight are not overweight wrestlers. They were usually a wrestler that were in the lower range of the weight group and the fathers were wanting their son in next weight group below. Our team DOES NOT CUT WEIGHT OR FOCUS ON THEIR WEIGHTS. They wrestle what they weight! We have went to tournamets in other states when at weigh ins I watched as a 5-6 year old child was running trying to lose 1 # to make weight. By the way, my son, who was in the lower range of that weight range beat that same child who was cutting weight(who was at the higher range) because that child lost needed energy for the tournament. Coaches and families need to get involved and educate their wrestlers and parents on healthy eating and healthy exercise. All year around. This does not mean a child can not have cake or candy occassionally.
Look at your older wrestlers in college and post college. Many are short stature. Stunted growth is the biggest side effect of cutting weight in youth. So go ahead and skip that meal, "it don't hurt anyone".
