DNA TV Show: Row over fat-containing laddus in Tirupati Temple
Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors to end protest, resume emergency services from...
Salman Khan's security breached, case registered against biker following actor's car
Sarfaraz Ahmed trolls Babar Azam in Champions One-Day Cup, star batter responds with century
After reducing debt, Anil Ambani's company now approves Rs 3014 crore...
Legends League Cricket 2024: Full schedule, squads, live streaming - All you need to know
India reacts to report on diversion of Indian defence exports to Ukraine, says, ‘it is…’
Tata Group-owned app to deliver iPhone 16 models in 10 minutes, service starts from…
Amitabh Bachchan apologises for this reason in viral video: 'Galat ho gaya tha...'
New COVID-19’s XEC 'contagious' variant spreads across 27 countries, here's what you need to know
Verantes Living Awarded as India’s No.1 Stainless Steel Modular Kitchen Brand
Narayana Murthy’s Infosys set to invest Rs 170000000 in this startup
Discover Stainless France, the Leading Supplier of Cobalt Chrome
India dismisses Khalistani terrorist Pannun's US lawsuit over assassination attempt, calls it…
IND vs BAN, 1st Test: R Ashwin joins Ravindra Jadeja in elite club, becomes second cricketer to....
More trouble for ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, Bengal medical body now...
Tirupati Laddu row: Lab report confirms prasada contains beef fat, fish oil
Meet IPS officer who has resigned after serving for 18 yrs due to...
ITR filing: Haven’t received your income tax refund yet? Here’s what you should do
FATF says India faces severe 'terrorist financing threats' from...
WATCH: IAS officer poses as customer at liquor shop, imposes Rs 50000 fine for....
Meet Indian man, who got hired whopping Rs 12000000 crore salary job, not from IIT, IIM he is...
Meet ‘delivery boy’ who beats Mukesh Ambani in world’s billionaire list, his net worth is…
Suriya, Bobby Deol-starrer Kanguva gets new release date, averts clash with Rajinikanth's Vettaiyan
This Bajaj Group company's shares rose by Rs 1687 in just 5 days after...
5 super expensive assets Mukesh Ambani owns: Rs 15000 crore home, Rs 600 crore jet, MI worth...
IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Shubman Gill joins Virat Kohli in unwanted list after poor outing on Day 1
“I'm gonna cut…”: Know what Andrew Flintoff said to Yuvraj Singh before his 6 sixes feat
Kareena Kapoor revives vintage glam in 25-year-old Banarasi saree makeover
Atishi’s Delhi cabinet: AAP leader to retain four minsters; new face to be included
Centre investigates 26-year-old EY employee's death amid massive outrage
NASA's James Webb unveils black hole starving its host galaxy; see pic
'They will also finish....': Akhilesh Yadav slams BJP over 'one nation, one election'
Housing society issues notice over too many deliveries asks to hire personal watchman
ICC releases venues for women's T20 world cup, check list here
J-K Assembly Election 2024: 'Abdullahs, Muftis, Gandhis have given...,' says PM Modi in Srinagar
Meet woman who left medical career for UPSC exam , became IPS with AIR 165 then left job due to...
Meet Indian billionaire with Rs 32615 crore net worth who wants you to save Rs 600 daily because...
IAS Puja Khedkar case latest update: Delhi HC issues...; Know details here
Haryana Assembly Election 2024: BJP releases election manifesto, guarantees...
Amid Ind vs Ban, why is 'boycottBangladeshCricket' trending on social media? Know here
'Usko dekh...': Rishabh Pant during war of words with Liton Das during Ind vs Ban test
This is world's costliest rice, price of 1 kg will leave you shocked, it is grown in...
Could your phone be the next bomb? The scary truth about remote explosions
Watch video: Rohit Sharma's reaction after Virat Kohli's dismissal in Ind vs Ban test match
Bihar: 15 people held for torching 21 houses in Nawada, government says more arrests likely
Atishi, along with new cabinet, to take oath as Delhi CM on..., know details here
Ed raids ex-IAS, Noida Authority CEO's house, Rs 1 crore cash, Rs 19 crore jewellery recovered
Hezbollah walkie-talkie blast kills 20 in Lebanon; Israel declares 'start of new phase in war'
NASA Alert: Giant asteroid Apophis, as big as a skyscraper, will approach Earth on...
Himesh Reshammiya's father, music director Vipin Reshammiya, passes away at 87
This is now India's biggest alcohol firm, has surpassed Johnnie Walker maker Diageo by Rs...
Big win for ISRO: Centre approves Chandrayaan-4, Venus mission and a space station; allocates Rs...
HEALTH
In the final 24 hours before the weigh-in, when athletes are typically just 1 to 1.5 kilos above their target weight, the focus shifts to eliminating excess water from the body.
TRENDING NOW
Weight-cutting is a practice where athletes rapidly shed weight within a short period, typically in the days or even hours leading up to a weigh-in. This process often involves severe calorie restriction, dehydration, and intense physical exertion. Athletes like Mary Kom, who shed 2 kilos within 4 hours in a tournament in Poland, or Aman Sehrawat, who dropped 4.5 kilos in just 10 hours before a Paris Olympics weigh-in, are prime examples of how intense and taxing this process can be.
Weeks before a competition, athletes begin their weight-cutting journey by creating a calorie deficit through rigorous training and a diet devoid of carbs, such as rice or roti, focusing instead on salads and other low-calorie foods. As the weigh-in approaches, their diet becomes even more restrictive, often leaving them to train on empty stomachs while also severely limiting their fluid intake.
In the final 24 hours before the weigh-in, when athletes are typically just 1 to 1.5 kilos above their target weight, the focus shifts to eliminating excess water from the body. This involves drinking as little water as possible and engaging in intense physical activity to sweat out the remaining weight. Wrestlers often don heavy hoodies or jackets and train in humid conditions, running in thick sweaters or even wearing sauna suits that push the body to extreme levels of heat and dehydration. In some cases, athletes take scalding hot baths to induce sweating, further depleting their bodies of vital fluids.
Health Risks:
While these methods may help athletes make weight, they come with severe health risks. Prolonged dehydration, a common tactic in weight-cutting, can lead to a host of dangerous symptoms, including loss of strength, electrolyte imbalances, dizziness, and even fainting. The lack of fluid intake during intense workouts can also cause hypothermia, a condition where the body’s core temperature drops dangerously low, leading to potential heart attacks and kidney failure.
The consequences of rapid weight loss extend beyond the weigh-in. During the actual competition, athletes may experience reduced concentration, blurred vision, and delayed joint movements due to their depleted physical state. Over time, these practices can lead to chronic issues such as renal problems and other forms of organ damage.
Moreover, the recovery process after a match is fraught with challenges. Rehydrating the body after such intense dehydration is not a straightforward task. Drinking large amounts of water too quickly can overwhelm the body, leading to vomiting as the system struggles to cope with the sudden influx of fluid. The mental toll of weight-cutting is also significant, with many athletes experiencing a drop in self-esteem and confidence just before they step onto the mat.