Effect of bodybuilding athletes’ weight loss method on performance factors and immune function

• Published in: Journal of exercise rehabilitation Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 357 - 362
• Main Authors: Kim, Jung-Hwan, Kim, Jun-Su
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Society of Exercise Rehabilitation 01.12.2023
• Subjects: Original; Dietary restrictions; Training; Low-weight loss; High-weight loss; Bodybuilders
• ISSN: 2288-176X; 2288-1778
• DOI: 10.12965/jer.2346552.276

This study was conducted on elite bodybuilders for 6 weeks using two weight loss methods (traditional method=high-weight loss vs. new method=low-weight loss). The subjects of this study were 26 male ac-tive elite bodybuilders who voluntarily wanted to participate in this ex-periment, and were divided into experimental group and traditional group. The traditional and experimental groups underwent dietary re-strictions and training for 6 weeks. The conclusion obtained from the results of this study is that in the case of anthropometric variables, there is a difference in weight class between the two groups. The ex-perimental group’s upper arm circumference was maintained com-pared to the pre-measured value after post-measurement, while the traditional group decreased, and a significant interaction effect was observed. In particular, a significant interaction effect was observed. In that the absolute value of maximum oxygen intake was significantly in-creased only in the post-experimental group compared to the pretest, and an interaction effect was observed, the use of low-weight loss method is more effective than the traditional method of high-weight loss method. An increase in some cytokines was observed despite tradition-al weight loss, but it did not cause an excessive decrease in immunity or a sharp decrease in performance factors. As a result of this experi-ment, it is judged that the use of a low-weight loss method is more pref-erable than the traditional high-weight loss method in relation to perfor-mance variables.