Iowa Wrestling Study: anthropometric measurements and the prediction of a “minimal” body weight for high school wrestlers¹

Abstract

The assumption was made that finalists in state wrestling tournaments were the best example of well conditioned athletes who were effectively competing at their minimal body weights and that their body dimensions could be used to predict a minimal wrestling weight for other high school students. Anthropometrical measurements (height, diameters, circumferences, skinfolds) were obtained from 582 state finalists and 835 “average” scholastic wrestlers in the state of Iowa. In addition, selected growth and body weight changes during a one year period were secured from 177 and 2,287 students respectively. Comparisons between the two groups indicated that the state finalists were older, had wider diameters, smaller circumferences and lower skinfold values than the average wrestlers. Using height and selected diameter measures, a multiple regression equation was selected that had a correlation coefficient of .93 with the actual body weight of the finalists. It was concluded that the minimal weight prediction equation, when reinforced by physician judgment on marginal cases, could provide a scientific yet practical, inexpensive and effective method to reduce many of the problems created by the “making of weight” by high school wrestlers.