Rifat YAGMUR^1,* , Ozkan ISIK², Yakup KILIC³, Ilkay DOGAN4⁴

• ¹ School of Physical Education and Sports, Afyon Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey
• ² Faculty of Sports Sciences, Sakarya University of Applied Sciences, Sakarya, Turkey
• ³ Faculty of Sports Sciences, Fırat University, Elazig, Turkey
• ⁴ Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey
• ^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine body weight loss methods and its effects on elite cadet Greco-Roman wrestlers' performance. The sample of research consisted of 146 elite Greco-Roman wrestlers. The “Athlete weight loss methodology and effects scale” and a personal information form were used. In addition to descriptive statistics, One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis. Additionally, a Pearson correlation analysis was used to determine relationships between variables. Results showed that 47.9% of the wrestlers lose weight and 52.1% did not engage in a rapid weight loss regimen. It was calculated that on average weight loss wrestlers reduce their body weights by 4.68%. Statistically significant differences were found between dietary, physiological, and psychological sub-dimension effects in the weight loss groups. In addition, there was weak but positive correlations between weight loss percentage and diet (r=0.305), as well as physiological (r=0.231), and psychological (r=0.168) sub-dimensions. Accordingly, as the percentage of weight loss increases, wrestlers’ level of nutrition and fluid restriction increases. For this restriction, the physiological and psychological effect sub-dimensions levels also increase. As a result, when the diet sub-dimension of weight loss wrestlers was examined, it was found that 92.9% of the wrestlers engaged in food and fluid restriction. When the physiological effect sub-dimension was examined, it was found that 72.9% were exposed to muscle cramps and 72.9% to injury. Moreover, when the psychological effect sub-dimension of the wrestlers was examined, it was determined that 87.1% were exposed to stress, and 90.0% had decreased performance. As a result, weight loss before the competition was determined to cause physiological and psychological negative effects on athletes.

Keywords: Weight loss; wrestling; cadet athletes; competition

Category: Fitness, Health, and Nutrition .

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