Short Term Body Mass Manipulation in Powerlifting: A Narrative Review and Best Practice Recommendations
Date
Supervisor
Item type
Journal Article
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Short Term Body Mass Manipulation (SBM) is frequently used in powerlifting by athletes to qualify for lower weight classes and improve relative competitiveness. The three primary physiological pathways that SBM leverages are gastrointestinal content reduction, glycogen storage and body water manipulation, in addition to post-weigh-in refueling. Despite its high prevalence among athletes competing in the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the scientific literature on SBM remains limited, and sport-specific guidelines are currently lacking. This narrative review summarizes the current evidence on SBM in powerlifting, with a focus on physiological mechanisms, practical implementation, and associated risks. The specific demands of IPF competition, consisting of maximal strength performance after only a two-hour window between weigh-in and competition, necessitate uniquely tailored SBM strategies. SBM should not be regarded as a standard preparation method. Instead, it should be seen as a targeted intervention to be applied with caution and strategic intent. The decision to implement SBM must be based on individual assessment, physiological plausibility, and a well-considered cost-benefit rationale. Ensuring effective rehydration and refueling between weigh-in and competition is critical to support both safety and performance. This review provides sport specific, evidence-based recommendations to assist practitioners in applying SBM responsibly within the context of powerlifting.Description
Keywords
Short term body mass manipulation, making weight, powerlifting, rapid weight loss, weight cutting, 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, 42 Health Sciences, 3210 Nutrition and Dietetics, 4207 Sports Science and Exercise, Generic health relevance, 0606 Physiology, 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 1111 Nutrition and Dietetics, Sport Sciences, 3210 Nutrition and dietetics, 4207 Sports science and exercise
Source
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, ISSN: 1550-2783 (Print); 1550-2783 (Online), Taylor & Francis Group, 22(1), 2591783-. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2025.2591783
Publisher's version
Rights statement
© 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.