What is the ‘weight cutting’ that athletes use to lose weight quickly?

India was devastated when the fighter Vinesh Phogat On August 7, Vinesh was disqualified from the gold medal competition at the Olympics. Vinesh was on the cusp of making history as the first Indian wrestler and athlete to win Olympic gold. However, she was unable to make the required weight on the morning of the final round. The athlete had pushed herself to the limit, performing intense cardio workouts and cycling through the night, desperately trying to lose 100 grams. Unfortunately, the effort led to severe dehydration and Vinesh was subsequently hospitalized, dashing all the nation’s hopes and dreams of Olympic glory.

Olympic medallist boxer Vijender Singh said that the problem of overweight is nothing. “In case an athlete is overweight, steam bath, sauna, running, everything is done to lose a few grams. It is a very tough decision, we must fight against it,” Vijender Singh said in an interaction with the media.

In sports with strict weight classes such as struggle In boxing, the slightest difference in weight can shatter the dreams of athletes and the hopes of an entire nation. This pressure often forces athletes to take extreme measures to reduce weight. For example, Mary Kom, who competed in the 48 kg category at a tournament in Poland, was a few kilos overweight, but managed to lose 2 kilos in just four hours overnight.

Similarly, Aman Sehrawatwho won bronze at the Paris Olympics in the men’s 57kg wrestling category, had to lose 4.5kg in 10 hours before his weigh-in the following day.

But is it safe to lose weight suddenly? What technique do athletes use to fit into the category?

Weight cutting technique

Athletes reportedly follow a “weight-cutting” technique in which they lose weight rapidly in a short period of time. This technique is commonly used in sports with strict weight limits, especially at the Olympics. This process involves not only restricting food intake but also removing fluid and water content from the body. Athletes are weighed on the morning of the competition to ensure they meet the required weight criteria; if they exceed the limit, disqualification is inevitable. To meet these demands, athletes often undergo intense Weight loss Athletes undergo endurance training regimes weeks before the event, with the goal of losing at least 10 percent of their body mass. The final 24 hours before the weigh-in are particularly grueling, as athletes forgo food and fluids to shed those last few grams.

Vinesh Phogat’s struggle to lose weight

“During the night we tried all drastic measures to reduce her weight, like cutting her hair and shortening her clothes, but we could not get her down to the 50kg category,” said Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, medical director of the Indian contingent in Paris. The weight reduction process before the morning weigh-in involves a calculated restriction of food and water, along with methods to induce sweating through saunas and exercise.

Aman Sehrawat’s Intensive Weight Loss Regimen

EnglishAfter his semi-final loss on Thursday 8 August, Aman Sehrawat was faced with the daunting task of losing 4.5kg in just 10 hours to meet the 57kg weight limit. He started with a 1.5-hour mat-based stand-up wrestling session, followed by a 1-hour hot bath session to work up a sweat. At 12:30am, he ran non-stop on the treadmill for an hour in the gym. After a 30-minute break, he continued with five 5-minute sauna sessions. Despite these efforts, he was still 900g over the limit, so he got a massage and did some light jogging. Aman completed five 15-minute running sessions, eventually reaching 56.9kg by 4:30am – just 100g under the limit. Throughout the process, he hydrated himself with warm water, lemon, honey and some coffee, staying awake until the weigh-in.

Health problems due to weight loss techniques

Weight loss techniques can pose significant health risks, including:

– Dehydration: Rapid weight loss often involves significant fluid loss, leading to dehydration. Severe dehydration can lead to dizziness, fainting, kidney damage, and in extreme cases, life-threatening conditions such as heat stroke.

– Electrolyte imbalance: Fluid loss also depletes the body of electrolytes, which are crucial for muscle function, heart rhythm, and overall cellular function. An imbalance can lead to muscle cramps, weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and even cardiac arrest.

– Reduction in muscle mass and strength: In the process of weight loss, athletes can lose muscle mass, which leads to a decrease in strength and endurance. This not only affects performance, but also increases the risk of injury.

– Nutritional deficiencies: Restrictive diets during weight loss can lead to insufficient intake of essential nutrients, weakening the immune system, impairing cognitive function and causing long-term health problems such as osteoporosis or anemia.

– Mental health issues: The intense pressure to lose weight quickly can lead to anxiety, stress and eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia. The psychological toll of these practices can have long-lasting effects on an athlete’s mental well-being.

– Impaired cognitive function: Dehydration and nutrient deprivation can affect concentration, reaction times and decision making, which can be dangerous in high-stakes competitive environments.

– Long-term organ damage: Repeated weight loss can lead to chronic damage to organs, particularly the kidneys and liver, due to the stress of dehydration and nutritional imbalances.

– Hormonal imbalances: Extreme weight loss can disrupt normal hormone production, affecting metabolism, reproductive health, and overall energy levels, which can lead to conditions such as amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycles) in female athletes.

– Compromised immune system: The combination of nutrient deficiencies and physical stress weakens the immune system, making athletes more susceptible to infections and illness.

Disclaimer: Please do not start weight cutting techniques on your own as it is not recommended to do so without professional guidance.