Nutrition assessment of horse-racing athletes.
Abstract: Athletes involved in horse racing face weight restrictions like wrestlers and dancers; however, the literature is sparse pertaining to nutritional habits of jockeys. The practice of "making weight" causes these athletes to engage in potentially unhealthy practices. A gap in nutritionally sound practices and methods used by jockeys was identified and a desire for nutrition education was expressed to Cooperative Extension of Delaware by representatives of the riders at Delaware Park Race Track. Nutrition assessment was done using the Nutrition Care Process. Twenty jockeys were interviewed using an assessment form developed to target areas of disordered eating. Body mass index (BMI), mean weight loss on race day, methods of weight loss and ease of weight maintenance were examined. The jockeys were also asked for areas they wished to receive nutrition education on in the future. The BMI of the 20 jockeys ranged from 17.0 to 21.4 during racing season, with only one jockey in the "underweight" category. This range increased to 19.1-24.0 when the riders were not riding. The most common method of weight loss was the use of steam rooms, to lose an average 2.5 lb in 1 day. Eight of 20, the most common response, reported it very easy to maintain their racing weight. The jockeys reported interest in future education sessions on meal planning and healthy food ideas. The assessment was used as the basis to develop nutrition education materials and presentations for the riders at the race track.
Publication Date: 2010-08-31 PubMed ID: 20803166DOI: 10.1007/s10900-010-9306-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study looks into the nutritional habits and issues of jockeys and their interest in nutrition education. The jockeys’ strict weight restrictions often lead them to adopt unhealthy practices to maintain their racing weight.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted a nutritional assessment using the Nutrition Care Process. This is a systematic process used by dietitians to provide high quality nutrition care.
- They interviewed twenty jockeys using an assessment form designed to pinpoint areas of disordered eating.
- They investigated specific details including Body Mass Index (BMI), average weight loss on race day, methods used for weight loss, and ease of maintaining weight.
Key Findings
- The range of the jockeys’ BMI during the racing season was between 17.0 to 21.4, with only one jockey falling under the “underweight” category. When the jockeys were not racing, this range increased to 19.1-24.0.
- The most prevalent method of weight loss among the jockeys was the use of steam rooms. On average, they would lose around 2.5 lb in one day using this method.
- Eight out of the twenty jockeys reported that it was very easy for them to maintain their racing weight.
- Most of the jockeys expressed an interest in receiving further education on meal planning and healthy food ideas.
Implications and Conclusions
- This study identifies a notable gap between the potentially damaging practices jockeys employ to maintain their racing weight and nutritionally sound methods.
- The findings further fuel the current discussions on the unhealthy weight loss practices among jockeys.
- The expressed interest in nutritional education suggests that jockeys are aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for their performance and overall health.
- The findings provide a basis for developing appropriate nutrition education materials and presentations for this particular group of athletes. Such resources should encompass practical strategies that support healthy weight management, including meal planning and healthy food ideas.
Cite This Article
APA
Cotugna N, Snider OS, Windish J.
(2010).
Nutrition assessment of horse-racing athletes.
J Community Health, 36(2), 261-264.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-010-9306-x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. ncotugna@udel.edu
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Animals
- Athletes / psychology
- Athletes / statistics & numerical data
- Body Mass Index
- Body Weight
- Feeding Behavior
- Female
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Nutritional Status
- Qualitative Research
- Sports
- Time Factors
- Weight Loss
- Young Adult
References
This article includes 6 references
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- Maffulli N. Making weight: a case study of two elite wrestlers.. Br J Sports Med 1992 Jun;26(2):107-10.
- Kukidome T, Shirai K, Kubo J, Matsushima Y, Yanagisawa O, Homma T, Aizawa K. MRI evaluation of body composition changes in wrestlers undergoing rapid weight loss.. Br J Sports Med 2008 Oct;42(10):814-8.
- McNulty KY, Adams CH, Anderson JM, Affenito SG. Development and validation of a screening tool to identify eating disorders in female athletes.. J Am Diet Assoc 2001 Aug;101(8):886-92; quiz 893-4.
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- King L, Cullen SJ, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Warrington G, Woods G, Losty C. Mental health difficulties among professional jockeys: a narrative review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2021;7(2):e001078.
- Jeon S, Cho K, Ok G, Lee S, Park H. Weight loss practice, nutritional status, bone health, and injury history: A profile of professional jockeys in Korea. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem 2018 Sep 30;22(3):27-34.
- Wilson G, Drust B, Morton JP, Close GL. Weight-making strategies in professional jockeys: implications for physical and mental health and well-being. Sports Med 2014 Jun;44(6):785-96.
- von Hippel PT, Rutherford CG, Keyes KM. Gender and Weight among Thoroughbred Jockeys: Underrepresented Women and Underweight Men. Socius 2017 Jan-Dec;3.
- Vélez-Alcázar AE, García-Roca JA, Vaquero-Cristóbal R. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Its Influence on Anthropometric and Fitness Variables in High-Level Adolescent Athletes. Nutrients 2024 Feb 23;16(5).
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