Effects of Bodyweight Reduction on Sports Performance
Abstract
Athletes reduce bodyweight for several reasons: to compete in a lower weight class; to improve aesthetic appearance; or to increase physical performance. Rapid bodyweight reduction (dehydration in 12 to 96 hours), typically with fluid restriction and increased exercise, is used by athletes competing in weight-class events. Gradual bodyweight reduction (over > 1 week) is usually achieved by cutting energy intake to 75 to 130 kJ/kg/day. An intake of 100 kJ/kg/day results in a weekly bodyweight loss of roughly 1kg. Aerobic endurance capacity decreases after rapid bodyweight reduction, but might increase after gradual bodyweight reduction. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) measured as L/min is unchanged or decreased after bodyweight loss, but VO2max measured as ml/kg/min may increase after gradual bodyweight reduction. Anaerobic performance and muscle strength are typically decreased after rapid bodyweight reduction with or without 1 to 3 hours rehydration. When tested after 5 to 24 hours of rehydration, performance is maintained at euhydrated levels. A high carbohydrate diet during bodyweight loss may help in maintaining performance. Anaerobic performance is not affected and strength can increase after gradual bodyweight reduction. Reductions in plasma volume, muscle glycogen content and the buffer capacity of the blood explain decreased performance after rapid bodyweight reduction. During gradual bodyweight loss, slow glycogen resynthesis after training, loss of muscle protein and…
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LEA and REDs lead to a decline in athletic performance in the long term because gradual reduction in body weight results in slower muscle glycogen synthesis, loss of muscle protein, and increased risk for stress fractures.
“However, regardless of the potential for shortterm gains in athletic performance, LEA and REDs lead to a decline in athletic performance in the long term because gradual reduction in body weight results in slower muscle glycogen synthesis, loss of muscle protein, and increased risk for stress fractures [4,24].”
From Low Energy Availability and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (2025) · cites this paper as [24]
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“…of the potential for short-term gains in athletic performance, LEA and REDs lead to a decline in athletic performance in the long term because gradual reduction in body weight results in slower muscle glycogen synthesis, loss of muscle protein, and increased risk for stress fractures [4, 24].”
- Authors
- Fogelholm, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Fogelholm, Mikael
- ORCID
- Fogelholm, Mikael
- Venue
- Sports Medicine
- Published
- 1994-10
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 249-267
- ISSN
- 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2076429557
- Cited by
- 215
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 0.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sports Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- weight-class sports, dehydration, rapid weight loss, caloric restriction, fluid restriction, cardiorespiratory fitness, VO2max, anaerobic performance, muscle strength, rehydration, high-carbohydrate diet, plasma volume, muscle glycogen, stress fractures, energy intake
- MeSH terms
- Energy Intake, Dehydration, Dietary Carbohydrates, Humans, Oxygen Consumption, Physical Endurance, Psychomotor Performance, Sports, Anaerobic Threshold, Weight Loss, Exercise
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