India was devastated when wrestlers Vinesh Phogat She was disqualified from competing in the gold medal match at the Olympic Games on August 7. Vinesh was on the verge of creating history as the first Indian wrestler and female athlete to win an Olympic gold. However, she could not make the required weight on the morning of the final round. The athlete had pushed herself to the limit, engaging in intense cardio and cycling overnight to lose 100 grams of weight. Unfortunately, the effort led to severe dehydration and Vinesh was later hospitalised, dashing all hopes and dreams of the country’s Olympic glory.

Olympic medallist boxer Vijender Singh said the overweight issue is nothing. “If an athlete is overweight, then steam bath, sauna, running – all these things are done to reduce weight. This is a very tough decision, we should fight against this decision,” Vijender Singh said while talking to the media.

e.g. in sports with strict weight categories Wrestling And in boxing, even a slight difference in weight can shatter the dreams of athletes and the hopes of an entire nation. This pressure often forces athletes to take extreme weight-loss measures. For example, Mary Kom, who was competing in the 48kg category at a tournament in Poland, was a few kilos overweight but managed to lose 2kg overnight in just four hours.

Similarly, aman sehrawatThe wrestler, who won a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling category at the Paris Olympics, had to lose 4.5 kg within 10 hours before his weigh-in the next day.

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

weight loss technique

According to the report, athletes follow a ‘weight-cutting’ technique, whereby they reduce their weight drastically in a short period of time. This technique is commonly used in sports with strict weight limits, especially in the Olympics. The process involves not only restricting food intake but also eliminating fluids 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 testing Weight Loss Athletes aim to lose at least 10 percent of their body weight a few weeks before the competition. The final 24 hours before the weigh-in are particularly grueling, as athletes sacrifice food and fluids to shed those last few grams.

Vinesh Phogat’s struggle to lose weight

“We tried every drastic measure to reduce weight overnight, including cutting his hair and shortening his clothes, but still we could not get him into the 50kg category,” said Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala, chief medical officer of the Indian contingent in Paris. The weight-reduction process ahead of the morning weigh-in includes a deliberate restriction on food and water as well as sweating it out through saunas and exercise.

After losing in the semifinals on Thursday, August 8, Aman Sehrawat faced the tough task of losing 4.5 kg in just 10 hours to meet the 57 kg weight limit. After starting with a 1.5-hour mat session of standing wrestling, he took a 1-hour hot bath to sweat it out. At 12:30 a.m., he ran non-stop on the treadmill for an hour at the gym. After a 30-minute break, he continued with five 5-minute sauna sessions. Despite these efforts, he still weighed 900 grams over the limit, so he got a massage and did some light jogging. Aman completed five 15-minute running sessions, eventually reaching 56.9 kg by 4:30 a.m.

Health problems caused by weight loss techniques

Weight loss techniques can pose significant health risks, including:

– Dehydration: Rapid weight loss often causes the body to lose a significant amount of fluid, leading to dehydration. Severe dehydration can lead to dizziness, fainting, kidney failure and, in severe cases, a life-threatening condition such as heatstroke.

– Electrolyte imbalance: Lack of fluids also depletes the body’s electrolytes, which are important for muscle function, heart rhythm, and overall cellular function. The imbalance can cause muscle cramps, weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and even heart attack.

– Loss of 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 impacts performance, but also increases the risk of injury.

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

– Mental health issues: The intense pressure to lose weight quickly can cause anxiety, stress and eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia. The psychological impact of these practices can have long-term effects on the athlete’s mental health.

– Decreased cognitive function: Dehydration and nutrient deficiencies can impact concentration, reaction time, and decision-making abilities, which can be dangerous in high-stakes competitive environments.

– Long-term organ damage: Repeated weight loss can cause long-term damage to organs, especially the kidneys and liver, due to dehydration and nutritional imbalances.

– Hormonal imbalances: Excessive weight loss can disrupt normal hormone production, affecting metabolism, reproductive health and overall energy levels, which may lead to a condition called amenorrhea (cessation of the menstrual cycle) in female athletes.

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

Disclaimer: Please do not try any weight loss techniques on your own, as it is not advisable to do so without professional guidance.

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