Method: The sample included 36 under-16 wrestlers that participated in the Spanish national team. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test was done. The dependent variable was the knowledge of nutrition, weight control, and its risks. The independent variable was the educational program. The coaches´ and wrestlers´ perception, level of satisfaction, and fulfillment of the task during the sessions was registered. The program had three 30 minutes sessions. The questionnaire was carried out before and after the intervention program. A descriptive and inferential analysis of the results (t-test for evidence of relationship) was done.
Analysis/Results: Before the formative program the wrestlers´ knowledge was good regarding nutrition (>70%) and adequate regarding weight control and risks (~50%). Male wrestlers had more nutrition knowledge than female wrestlers. Regarding the effect of the program, the results showed reduced nutrition knowledge (19%) and an increase in weight control and risk knowledge (20%). This tendency wasn't significant for females in nutrition knowledge. The satisfaction levels of the program and application of the sessions were high (90-80%). The causes for the decreased knowledge may be due to a lack of trust in their nutrition knowledge, the educational time spent being limited, and/or lack of individualization for the formative program. Initially, wrestlers´ nutrition knowledge was good, but it seems to not have been established on a solid foundation and they doubt about it when the get new information. The program was effective in relation to increasing knowledge of weight control and its risk. This result is probably due to the lower starting level knowledge (~50%). The program was perceived as appropriate, useful and necessary athletes and coaches.
Conclusions: The educational program was effective at increasing under-18 wrestlers´ knowledge about weight control and its risk knowledge and was ineffective related to nutrition knowledge.