Weight-Class Sports: Description, Physiology Of Weight Cycling.
Linda McCargar
School of Family and Nutritional Sciences, 2205 East Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4.
Weight class sports are those sports that require the athletes to achieve a specific body weight or body weight range before they are allowed to participate in competition. There are also sports where a low body weight is desirable for aesthetic reasons, but the requirement is more implicit than absolute. The competition weight is often much lower than the athlete's usual weight, and weight regain readily occurs during the off season. A pattern of repeated weight loss and regain is called weight cycling. It has been speculated that weight cycling may lead to physiological effects which may have an impact on the athletes performance and health. Physiological changes such as a lowering of metabolic rate, altered body composition and fat distribution, and hormonal changes have been investigated. The limited data available in athlete populations generally suggests no prolonged physiological effects. However, it is an issue that, at present, is not completely resolved.
Sportscience
