Weight management and weight loss strategies of professional jockeys.

This research article investigates the weight loss and weight management strategies used by professional jockeys in Victoria, Australia. The study found that a significant number of these athletes had difficulty maintaining their riding weight, often engage in meal skipping, food intake restriction before racing, and use sauna-induced sweating and diuretics to aid weight loss.

Research Methodology

• The research used an anonymous self-completed questionnaire to gather data from professional horseracing jockeys in Victoria, Australia. The response rate was 55%, with 116 respondents participating in the study.
• The questionnaire was designed to obtain information about the jockeys’ weight management strategies – how they maintained their riding weight and their weight loss methods in preparation for racing.

Key Findings

• Almost half of the respondents (43%) stated that it was difficult or very difficult for them to maintain their riding weight.
• 75% of them routinely skipped meals as part of their weight management plan.
• In the lead-up to a race, 60% of the jockeys reported needing to lose additional weight. To achieve this, 81% restricted their food intake in the 24 hours preceding a race.
• Other weight loss techniques used included sauna-induced sweating (adopted by 29% of respondents) and the usage of diuretics (used by 22%), both aimed to trigger rapid weight loss before a race.
• The utilization of such extreme weight loss methods was consistent regardless of whether the jockeys followed a weight management plan (51% did) or not.

Implications and Future Research

• The study raises concerns about the potential health risks associated with the extreme weight loss practices of professional jockeys. However, the impact of such practices on their riding performance and overall health remains unknown.
• This highlights the need for further research to investigate these implications, which could provide insights that could help improve the health and performance of these athletes.