Acute weight loss followed by an aggressive nutritional recovery strategy has little impact on on-water rowing performance.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the influence of moderate, acute weight loss on on-water rowing performance when aggressive nutritional recovery strategies were used in the two hours between weigh in and racing.


METHODS
Competitive rowers (n = 17) undertook three on-water 1800 m time trials under cool conditions (mean (SD) temperature 8.4 (2.0) degrees C), each separated by 48 hours. No weight limit was imposed for the first time trial--that is, unrestricted body mass (UNR1). However, one of the remaining two trials followed a 4% loss in body mass in the previous 24 hours (WT(-4%)). No weight limit was imposed for the other trial (UNR2). Aggressive nutritional recovery strategies (WT(-4%), 2.3 g/kg carbohydrate, 34 mg/kg Na+, and 28.4 ml/kg fluid; UNR, ad libitum) were used in the first 90 minutes of the two hours between weigh in and performance trials.


RESULTS
WT(-4%) had only a small and statistically non-significant effect on the on-water time trial performance (mean 1.0 second, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.9 to 2.8; p = 0.29) compared with UNR. This was despite a significant decrease in plasma volume at the time of weigh in for WT(-4%) compared with UNR (-9.2%, 95% CI -12.8% to -5.6%; p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute weight loss of up to 4% over 24 hours, when combined with aggressive nutritional recovery strategies, can be undertaken with minimal impact on on-water rowing performance, at least in cool conditions.
Slater
G
G
Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
Rice
A J
AJ
Tanner
R
R
Sharpe
K
K
Gore
C J
CJ
Jenkins
D G
DG
Hahn
A G
AG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology*