The Effect of Rapid Weight Loss on Physiological Functions in Wrestlers

Abstract

In brief: To assess the effects of rapid weight reduction, four university wrestlers decreased their body weight by 8% over a four-day period by food and liquid intake reductions. Significant decreases in muscle glycogen concentration and dynamic strength, but not aerobic or anaerobic capacity, accompanied weight loss. A three-hour rehydration period did not improve glycogen levels or strength performance. These results suggest that rapid weight reduction may impair wrestling performance.

Weight Loss and Weight Cycling in Amateur Wrestlers: Implications for Performance and Resting Metabolic Rate

“…Similar adverse effects of weight loss on the exercise heart rate of wrestlers during submaximal work have been confirmed by others (1,73). In contrast, cardiovascular function as indicated by peak oxygen uptake (peak V 0 3 during maximal work does not appear to be hampered (7,30), even when wrestlers reduce their body weight by as much as 8%. Others have found that peak VOz and endurance time for running on the treadmill were decreased (77); these changes could be caused by rapid weight loss-induced decreases in muscle glycogen, plasma volume, and impaired thermoregulation.…”

“…This is true whether it was static strength that was measured, a s in earlier studies (1,58,61,73), or dynamic strength (30,80) and anaerobic"owera (34,48,52), as assessed in more recent research. FYgure 1 depicts the relationship between weight$loss and shortterm, high intensity performance from.previous~research~on wrestlers.…”

“…More recent research surveying collegiate wrestlers for weekly practices reported similar magnitudes of weight loss: 85% of the college wrestlers lost between 2.7 and 9.1 kg each week (66). Two reports on international competitors (Seniors) reveal weight losses of 7.8% under actual conditions (80) and 8% under experimental conditions that simulated the typical practice (30). Most of these studies were done at a time when the weigh-in was held on the day of the meet, approximately 3 to 5 hrs before competition.…”

“…For longer performances, sustained or intermittent, w e a d others (24,26,30,43,45,,63,77) have measured significant decreases in performance. In contrast, we and others, have also found no adverse effects (26,30,58) when certain dietary practices were8employed.…”

“…FYgure 1 depicts the relationship between weight$loss and shortterm, high intensity performance from.previous~research~on wrestlers. Lack of a consistent change in performance after weight loss may be due to relatively unaffected muscle concentrations of ATP and PC (30) and minor effects of muscle water and electrolyte losses on the muscledber recruitability (13).…”