The effects of body mass reduction on the anaerobic power and selected somatic characteristics of Greco-Roman wrestlers

Abstract Study aim: The aim of the study was to determine the effects of body weight loss on the levels of somatic features and peak power of senior Greco-Roman wrestlers from the Polish national team. Material and methods: The study included 14 males, i.e. 7 wrestlers reducing their body weight and 7 wrestlers not changing their body weight. Seven days prior to a competition, the study participants began a 5-day process of losing body weight. The process involved reducing caloric intake from 3460 ± 683.1 kcal to 2160.0 ± 423.5 kcal per day. Results: Over the period of 5 days, the participants reduced their body weight by 3.1 ± 0.7 kg (p < 0.001). There occurred a decrease in the value of endomorphy (p < 0.01) and mesomorphy (p < 0.05) and an increase in the value of ectomorphy (p < 0.001). Peak power did not change (1296 ± 100.9 W on day 5 of the examination), nor did relative peak power (19.9 ± 1.1W/kg). Conclusions: In wrestlers 5-day rapid weight loss protocol may result in decrease of body circumferences and consecutive changes in somatic type without concurrent loss in lower-limb peak power.