For Wrestlers, 'Weight Cutting' Has Psychological Effects

This is what dieters suffer - especially low-carb dieters; however, just about all dieters are affected by this.

Rapid weight loss has a special name - failure.

For collegiate wrestlers, rapid reductions in body mass over a few days before a match can adversely affect psychological function, suggests a study in the April issue of The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, official research journal of the National Strength and Conditioning Association...

The researchers studied the physical and psychological effects of weight cutting in a group of 16 collegiate wrestlers. Ten days before a competitive meet, the wrestlers were weighed, completed a brief mood rating scale, and underwent strength tests (grip strength and lower body power). They were then allowed to "self-select" their desired amount of weight loss before the match-using methods such as exercise, calorie restriction, and fluid deprivation.

The wrestlers were weighed again in the days leading up to the meet, and the psychological and strength tests were repeated on the day of the match. The researchers looked for changes in psychological functioning and strength related to pre-match weight loss.

The wrestlers reduced their body mass by up to eight percent; the average weight loss was about six pounds. Despite having ten days to prepare, the wrestlers lost almost all of the weight in the two days before the match.

Six pounds in ten days is less than many diets, especially low-carb diets, claim to achieve.

Dieters are starved into failure.

Learn how to lose weight properly.