An Alternative Dietary Strategy to Make Weight While Improving Mood, Decreasing Body Fat, and Not Dehydrating: A Case Study of a Professional Jockey

Abstract

Professional jockeys are unique among weight-making athletes, as they are often required to make weight daily and, in many cases, all year-round. Common methods employed by jockeys include dehydration, severe calorie restriction, and sporadic eating, all of which have adverse health effects. In contrast, this article outlines a structured diet and exercise plan, employed by a 22-yr-old professional National Hunt jockey in an attempt to reduce weight from 70.3 to 62.6 kg, that does not rely on any of the aforementioned techniques. Before the intervention, the client's typical daily energy intake was 8.2 MJ (42% carbohydrate [CHO], 36% fat, 22% protein) consumed in 2 meals only. During the 9-wk intervention, daily energy intake was approximately equivalent to resting metabolic rate, which the athlete consumed as 6 meals per day (7.6 MJ, 46% CHO, 19% fat, 36% protein). This change in frequency and composition of energy intake combined with structured exercise resulted in a total body-mass loss of 8 kg, corresponding to reductions in body fat from 14.5% to 9%. No form of intentional dehydration occurred throughout this period, and mean urine osmolality was 285 mOsm/kg (SD 115 mOsm/kg). In addition, positive changes in mood scores (BRUMS scale) also occurred. The client was now able to ride light for the first time in his career without dehydrating, thereby challenging the cultural practices inherent in the sport.

Markers of Bone Health, Renal Function, Liver Function, Anthropometry and Perception of Mood: A Comparison between Flat and National Hunt Jockeys

“…In a recent case-study on a professional Jump jockey, body mass was reduced by 8 kg over a 9-week period using 3 g.kg − 1 bw of CHO, without any intentional dehydration [ 37 ] despite the jockey reporting increased energy and vigour supporting our suggestion that 3 g.kg − 1 bw of CHO is appropriate for jockeys.…”

“…The mean CHO intakes of both Flat and Jump jockeys are lower than previously reported in Irish [ 9 ] and NZ jockeys [ 20 ] which fall considerably short of the suggested mid-range CHO intake of 6 g.kg − 1 bw recommended for athletes [ 28 ] . Previous studies on jockeys have suggested that such a low CHO intake may be insuffi cient [ 9 , 20 ] however, due to the need to ride at the required weight, combined with the apparent low energy demands of a typical race observed by our group, albeit in simulated race-riding [ 37 ] , and contrary to the view that riding has a high energy expenditure [ 34 ] we believe that such values are appropriate for jockeys. If jockeys were to consume 6 g.kg − 1 bw per day of CHO, along with a conservative protein intake of 1.2 g.kg − 1 bw and a fat intake of 1 g.kg − 1 bw this would result in a mean daily energy intake of 8.87 MJ and 10.33 MJ per day for Flat and Jump jockeys, respectively.…”

“…cations associated with the lifestyle of jockeys there have been suggestions that mental-health is also compromised in professional jockeys, as demonstrated though impaired mood profi les [ 6 ] . Indeed, we have recently reported a case-study showing that the mental well-being of a professional Jump jockey from Great Britain (GB) could be improved with a dietary and exercise intervention suggesting that the dietary practices may be responsible for the impaired mood profi les [ 37 ] . Taken collectively, these data suggest that both the physical and mental well-being of professional jockeys are compromised in a number of countries, which is likely to be a consequence of the poor dietary practices and lifestyle employed in an attempt to make-weight.…”

Weight Loss, Performance and Psychological Related States in High-level Weightlifters

“…Our data are in agreement with previous studies [13,21,36], and show that dietary restriction induces alterations in psychological parameters. However, there is a lack of consensus in the literature about this topic [19,59]; these discrepancies are linked to the dietary strategy used to make weight [58]. Recently, Helms et al [24] showed that a highprotein/low-fat diet during short-term weight loss may be more effective at mitigating mood disturbance, fatigue, diet dissatisfaction and stress than a moderate-protein/moderate-fat diet in resistance-trained males.…”

“…weight loss alters perceived exertion and mood by increasing tension, anger, fatigue, and confusion and decreasing vigour [11,15,21,28,36]. These alterations depend on dietary strategy to make weight [58]; this temporarily reduced mental state could be an outcome of the various physiological effects induced by weight regulation, such as dehydration and hypoglycaemia [42,44]. Nevertheless, the effects of energy restriction on mood are still in debate [19,59].…”