ABSTRACT
Rapid weight loss can be dangerous as the death of three collegiate wrestlers in 1997 being evidence of this although the ingestion of ephedrine based drinks may have played a role. Legislation brought forth by Senator John McCain resulted in the criminalization of ephedrine while the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and High School Athletic Associations have instituted a number of safe practices for Weight Management. Such practices include hydration testing, body fat testing, and minimizing the time between weigh-ins and competition (typically 1–2 hours). Additionally, loss of weight at 1.5% of bodyweight per week to get down to the lowest allowable body fat percentage has allowed for weight loss during the season. However, this could lead to Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome. Research on this phenomenon is warranted. The normal person is about 60% water with ~67% being in the intracellular space and ~23% being in the extracellular space. The major ways to lose water at rest are ~60% through the urine, ~35% through losses in the sweat and lungs, and ~5% through feces. During exercise most of the water loss is through the sweat and lungs. Sweat rates are dependent on temperature, body size, and metabolic rate. As far as water intake ~60% is through fluids, ~30% comes from the foods we eat, and ~10% comes from metabolic reactions that produce water.
