Nutritional Recovery Strategies After Weight Loss in Wrestling

Wrestlers are classified according to weight divisions to minimize disparities in body size, strength, and reach among their competitors. Official weigh-ins are conducted on the day of the competition, usually 3 hours before the match. Athletes often aim to compete in categories below their natural body weight, a goal commonly achieved through chronic and acute manipulation of body mass. Although such practices tend to compromise physiological functions and athletic performance, they provide a competitive edge when strategically employed. This position paper aims to identify and recommend safe and evidence-based protocols that enable nutritional recovery after weight reduction without compromising wrestlers’ athletic performance. Specifically, it examines the strategies for meeting post-weighted nutritional requirements, with a focus on rehydration to restore fluid balance and carbohydrate intake to replenish muscle glycogen stores.