Gymnastics: Weight Control Issues
February 15th, 2008Weight control is a serious issue.
Short term tricks to make a specific weight may lead to long term problems for the gymnast including anorexia and bulimia.
Weight control should only be done under direct supervision of a physician. Nobody, and I do mean nobody, can simply eyeball any individual and make an accurate assessment regarding weight loss issues.
Weight is basically irrelevant.
It is the ratio of lean muscle tissue to fat that is important. Muscle tends to weigh more than fat, so, in effect, a gymnast could weigh more than she did when she had more body fat and be in better shape although the scale says she currently weighs more.
In my opinion, no coach should be prescribing or even suggesting the gymnast alter her diet without having a medical evaluation to find the ratio of fat to lean muscle tissue of the gymnast.
To find the ratio of fat to lean muscle tissue, underwater weighing or taking measurements with the use of skin calipers at specific anatomical sites can help determine a base score.
Subsequent testings combined with tracking of food intake and workout intensity may be evaluated by a medical professional to determine the proper course of action from a dietary standpoint for a particular athlete.
Again, both of these methods should be performed by someone who is medically qualified to make an assessment of the gymnast’s physical condition.
If the results suggest a change in diet, that change should only occur with the advice and guidance of a qualified nutritionist.
Throughout my years in coaching, I have seen and heard several different weight loss mythologies proposed by well-meaning coaches that ultimately had no effect on the athlete’s physiology, but I wonder, what was the cost to the child’s self-esteem?
I remember a night before a state championships meet. Everyone was tucked into their hotel rooms and the gymnasts were looking forward to a yogurt before lights out. Having forgotten spoons, I was nominated to scrounge up some utensils and take them to the girl’s rooms.
Breaking safety protocols and basic common sense, one of the younger gymnasts opened the hotel room door before the other girls in the room could hide suitcases filled with candy of all sorts, potato chips, licorice, cupcakes - everything that was the antithesis of healthy eating.
Realizing I could get my car washed for at least the next month by not ratting them out to the “head” coaches, I did warn them that they better do great in the meet the next day or there could be negative consequences.
They did great at the meet.
And, I realized that each gymnast, and usually her mom, ultimately have the most control over the athlete’s diet.
The mom has a large degree of control because of what foods she buys and the meals she makes for the family. (By the way, that is not sexist. Mom’s still are basically in charge of family finances and deciding what is for dinner.)
The other factor, is that I have never seen any child from baby to young adult that ever ate anything they didn’t want to eat. They either spit it out as a baby or drive the parent crazy until Mom finally throws the brussel sprouts in the trash.
Ultimately at home, school, and at social functions that athlete makes the choice of what she eats.
A person’s weight is an extremely personal issue. Insensitive comments about weight can have lasting emotional effects. The effects of any weight loss program for child and adolescent athletes should be closely monitored.
The best diet for competitive gymnasts is to provide them with good food choices at home, school, and on the road; a good nutritional education; knowledge of what effect nutrition can have on achieving her competitive goals, and a support system of parents, coaching staff, and appropriate medical personnel.
Final Warning: Playing games with weight loss and dieting could have deleterious effects on your child’s metabolism and ability to maintain a healthy weight throughout the rest of her life.
