Body mass management of lightweight rowers: nutritional strategies and performance implications

Abstract

The majority of lightweight rowers undertake acute weight loss prior to competition. Given the competitive advantage afforded to larger, more muscular rowers over their smaller counterparts, the use of moderate, acute weight loss may be justified, at least among larger, leaner athletes who struggle to achieve the specified body mass requirement and have limited potential for further body mass loss via reductions in body fat. The performance implications of moderate acute weight loss appear to be small on the ergometer and may be even less on water, at least when aggressive recovery strategies are adopted between weigh-in and racing. Furthermore, any performance implications of acute weight loss are not exacerbated when such weight loss is undertaken repeatedly throughout the course of a regatta, and may even be eliminated when aggressive recovery strategies are introduced before and after racing. The combination of adequate sodium, fluid and carbohydrate in line with current guidelines results in the best performances. While the performance implications of modest acute weight loss may still need to be considered in regard to competition outcome, chronic body mass strategies may not be without performance implications. This is especially the case for athletes who have very low levels of body fat and/or athletes who decrease their body mass too quickly. Further studies are needed to address the degree of weight loss that can be tolerated with minimal health and/or performance implications, and the optimal time frame over which this should occur. Possible adaptation to the physiological state that accompanies acute weight loss also warrants investigation.

Nutritional Strategies to Optimize Performance and Recovery in Rowing Athletes

“…On average, the weight limit is 72.5 kg for males and 59 kg for females. Therefore, these athletes often attempt acute weight loss by increasing training volume or limiting food and fluid intake within a short period of time before a competition [ 66 , 67 ]. The International Federation of Rowing Association (FISA) restricts athletes from taking radical measures to lose weight and recommends that any weight loss performed 24 h prior to a competition should not exceed 1 kg ( Table 4 ).…”

Características Antropométricas y Somatotipo en Seleccionados Chilenos de Remo

“…El remo se caracteriza por ser un deporte de potencia y resistencia (Jürimäe et al, 2010;Jensen, 2011;Majumdar, Das, & Mandal, 2017), este deporte consiste en superar una distancia de 2000 metros oficiales (Boegman & Dziedzic, 2016;Majumdar et al), en un intervalo de tiempo que varía entre los 320 y 460 segundos (Bourgois et al, 2014;Majumdar et al). La competición se desarrolla en diferentes modalidades deportivas, en función del sexo y el peso del atleta, además del tipo de embarcación competitiva (Slater et al, 2014;Boegman & Dziedzic).…”

“…Se ha demostrado que durante la etapa de especialización deportiva, los deportistas adquieren algunas características antropométricas diferenciales, en las cuales influyen factores sociales, hereditarios, nutritivos y de entrenamiento, entre otros (Reilly, 2008). Por lo que, mediciones precisas y fiables de su composición corporal proporcionarán información importante para entrenadores a la hora de monitorizar los programas de entrenamiento y nutrición (Slater et al, 2014).…”

Validity of near‐infrared interactance (FUTREX 6100/XL) for estimating body fat percentage in elite rowers

“…Competitive rowing is characterized as requiring both strength and endurance, and power output relative to body mass is of particular concern (Maestu et al, 2005;Slater et al, 2014). Due to high metabolic demand, rowing athletes maintain lean body mass with optimal body fat percentage (FAT%) in hopes of improving performance, particularly in lightweight rowers (Slater et al, 2005).…”

“…Due to high metabolic demand, rowing athletes maintain lean body mass with optimal body fat percentage (FAT%) in hopes of improving performance, particularly in lightweight rowers (Slater et al, 2005). Therefore, accurate and reliable body composition measurements may provide important information for coaches when monitoring training and nutrition programs (Slater et al, 2014).…”