2017, Volume 13, Issue 1
Does acute weight loss and gain affect hydration status in adolescent wrestlers?
Erkan demirkan1, emre avcı2, Ramazan gargi1
1Sports Science Faculty, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey
2The Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic, , Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey
Author for correspondence: Erkan demirkan; Sports Science Faculty, Hitit University, Çorum, Turkey; email: erkandemirkan[at]hitit.edu.tr
Full text
Abstract
Background & Study Aim: The rapid weight loss and gain is a common practice in wrestlers within a week before competition. The aim of this study was the effects of rapid weight loss and gain before official weigh-in, along with during the competition in adolescent wrestlers.
Material & Methods: Totally twenty-four collegiate wrestlers (twelve of them as the competitors, other as non-competitor wrestlers) volunteered as subjects in the present study. Body composition was assessed by using a bioelectrical impedance device (bioelectrical impedance analysis; abbreviation BIA). Hydration status was determined via to urine specific gravity (USGV) that taken urine samples. The body mass and hydration status were evaluated: seven days before official weigh in (a); three days before the official weigh-in (b); morning of the official weigh in (c); the official weigh in time (d); before the beginning of the first bout (e); the following day morning (f).
Results: There was significant difference in body weight changes between the first weight assessment (a) and weigh in competition (d) in competitor wrestlers (p<0.05). In hydration status, there was significant difference between the first USGV analysis (a) and other assessments (b, c, d,, e, f) (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in hydration status between the weigh in competition USGV (d) and others (e, f) (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The duration between the official weigh in and the competition is not enough for wrestlers to rehydrate. The process of weight loss and hydration status should be monitored by coaches, not before a week but in a long time. Individual fluid intake strategies should be developed for athletes to be minimizing dehydration risk before and during the competition.
Key words: urine specific gravity, dehydration, competition, body composition
