Last week, Travis Prior, the cheerleading coach at the University of Colorado, announced he would implement weight restrictions on the squad's female members next year.

He has told prospective cheerleaders that they must not weigh more than 120 pounds if they expect to make the team.

Unfortunately, Prior's rule might cause some girls at the school to lose more than just weight -- namely, their health and self-esteem.

Prior enacted the guidelines for his female cheerleaders because he said that at least one male cheerleader undergoes surgery every year to repair shoulder damage from stunting exercises such as pyramids and lifts. Perhaps the male cheerleaders should be subjected to "strength requirements" instead.

While those activities always have the potential to do harm to those involved, the new rules may also have other implications.

He said that those trying out for the squad will be weighed during the tryout sessions, and those who are selected for the team will get their weight checked at least every other month.

What about the women who weigh 130 pounds and want to be on the squad? Since tryouts begin two weeks from today, there probably isn't a very healthy way for them to shed those 10 pounds in just 14 days. To get down to the desired weight, some women might take drastic approaches to thin down such as starving or not having a healthy diet.

These guidelines also send the wrong message to all young women that they must be thin to be attractive or successful in sports. Since magazines, television shows and movies send that same message as well sometimes, it is unfortunate that universities are beginning to do it as well.

The University of Colorado's squad isn't the first one to impose weight restrictions on its members. For example, Virginia Commonwealth University's Web site makes a recommendation for women to get their weight to the low teens if they want to be considered for the squad. And the University of Kentucky's cheerleaders follow the same requirements that Colorado's team will begin this year.

Even though the university's athletic department has an obligation to make sure its athletes stay healthy, these new weight guidelines do squads more harm than good.

There is more here at stake than the safety of the cheerleaders on the field. Their body image and way they view themselves are just as important off the field.