Signs of Starvation in High School Wrestlers

Wrestling is an intensive sport: athletes get thrown to the mat, they must dodge throw downs, and avoid pins. The sport is intensive for another reason, though. These athletes can face extreme pressure to "make weight," which can involve severe dieting in order to lose weight and fit within a certain weight class. Though this can be done in a healthy manner, wrestlers can also suffer from starvation to make weight. Confront your athlete if you notice any of the following signs.

  1. Irritability

    • Though passing that math test or girl troubles can be a reason for irritability, so can starvation. The Mayo Clinic lists irritability, along with fatigue and mental confusion, as a symptom of vitamin deficiency which occurs during starvation. If a wrestler is unusually abrupt or short-tempered when they are asked simple questions or during a friendly conversation, then they might need more nutrients and calories.

    Feeling Cold

    • Check the wrestler's attire when sitting in a warm setting. If everyone else is wearing shorts and a t-shirt while he is sitting in sweatpants and a large sweater, ask if he is cold. The book, "Foundations and Clinical Applications of Nutrition" explains that when the body is not receiving enough food, its metabolism rate slows and the body temperature will drop. The result is feeling cold despite mild temperatures.

      Cold hands and feet will be another symptom. Touch his hands and assess if they are chilly.

    Swelling in Legs or Fingers

    • Though wrestlers may already have large muscular arms and legs, look for puffiness in the fingers and legs as a sign of starvation. Their muscles will not be as pronounced or refined in such cases. Nancy Kolodny, author of "The Beginner's Guide to Eating Disorder Recovery," mentions that a lack of sodium chloride (salt) can cause edema, or swelling.

    Avoiding Meals

    • Carefully watch the behavior of the athlete during meal times. If he is pushing food around his plate but eats very little, he may be starving himself to make weight for the next meet. Ask him to join you for meals and monitor his response. Repeated no's or suggestions to go to a place that does not involve food are warning signs.

    Poor Skin

    • Nutrient deficiencies can appear in the form of flaky, dry, yellowish skin. Skin should be supple and smooth. Try to recall the appearance of his skin before you suspected starvation. Look at old pictures and compare them with his current appearance. If his skin is a noticeably different color or appears to be constantly dry, he might need more vitamins, particularly vitamin A, introduced back into his diet, along with more calories.

    Slow-to-heal Injuries

    • High school wrestlers are used to getting bruises and maybe even a few skin rashes. However, these injuries should show noticeable signs of healing, like the bruise turning yellow. Though the healing time of bruises varies between individuals, you should still see the bruise changing color within days. Likewise, cuts should begin to heal by scabbing in the course of days.