After the incident of our Indian athlete getting disqualified in the Paris Olympics wrestling podium finish championship, issues regarding the weight management in athletes have suddenly come to the limelight. Yes, apart from training in their respective sports and mastering the skills, athletes of sports like weightlifting, judo, wrestling, boxing, and rowing need to follow strict weight management to fit into their corresponding categories. Sometimes, athletes attempt to take advantage of such a clause and register for the weight category below theirs and try to fit into it just before the competition by following a strict weight-control program.
Some of the weight loss strategies include food restriction, fluid restriction, excessive strength training workouts and sauna-induced dehydration. Whether it is a long-term or short-term attempt, weight management has a lot of gray areas. Besides diet and exercise, there are factors like genetics, lack of quality sleep, excessive stress, poor gut health and some of the health issues like Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), thyroid-related issues may result in weight gain despite all the effort. With the myriad of weight management products available in the global market, the athletes often try to take up such shortcut methods to manage their weight in a timely manner. When weight loss or weight gain happens drastically over a short period of time, it can significantly affect the physical and psychological health of the individual.
Losing 5-10% of body weight over a period of 3 months is advised even by doctors for the improvement of cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and hence the cardiovascular disease. Losing weight not only improves physical health but may also increase self-esteem, confidence level improved functioning capacity, better sex life and overall reduced distress. However, losing more than 0.5kg per week is not considered ideal. Sudden changes in weight might be deleterious to one's health. It can make our bones weak, result in nerve damage, cause muscle weakness and cramps, possible abnormal heart rhythms and fainting spells. Some cases where induced vomiting or laxatives are used, intestinal damage, stomach laceration and esophageal rupture may occur. Sometimes it can alter our immunity and increase the risk of infection. Overuse of some of the weight management marketed products damages the kidneys. Additionally, psychological ill-effects like poor concentration, confusion, anger, mental fatigue, tension and stress have also been reported.
Hence it is paramount to render quality nutritional education and safer practices to athletes. Provide help from professionals and health care personnel. To maintain weight preceding a competition, it is advisable to use low residue diets, decrease salt intake, restrict fluids within safe limits, and ensure vitamin and nutritional supplements. Also, athletes should receive psychological training to manage their emotions under stress, make decisions under pressure, learn mental techniques to improve performance, maintain their motivation, and enable effective leadership qualities.
(Author: Dr Krithishree S S, Consultant – Psychiatry, KMC Hospital, Mangalore)
