sports dietetics in practice with professional jockeys helen brown
TRANSCRIPT
Summary
• The ‘making weight’ demands of horse-racing
• The dangers of rapid weight loss
• The extent of the problem within horse-racing
• Tackling the problem – the work of the team of Sports Dietitians working with Jockeys
Sports Dietetics
• Registered Dietitian• Specialist aspect of Dietetics
It is well recognised that• What we eat & drink• When we eat & drink• How much we eat & drinkCan all influence sporting performance
Horse Racing
• Low impact• Strength is required to maintain
balance and control the horse• Need to make weight is paramount
and is required on a daily basis• Despite the need for strength Jockeys
avoid muscle bulk and constantly maintain a low nutritional status
Weight Allowance
• A deduction may be made to the weight which a horse is expected to carry in a race.
• Ridden by an Apprentice or a Conditional jockey
Claims
• Apprentice 16 – 24 yrs Conditional 16 – 25 yrs
Apprentice: 7lbs until 20 wins 5lbs until 50 wins
3lbs until 95 wins
Conditional: 7lbs until 15 wins 5lbs until 35 wins 3lbs until 65 wins
10lbs if only 5 wins
Minimum Weights
Minimum weight – Flat: 7st 12 lbs Jump: 10st.
Range of weights within a meeting:• First race 14.00 - 8st 9lbs• Second race 14.40 - 9st• Third race 15.15 - 8st 6lbs• Fourth race 16.25 - 9st
Making Weight
• Often 2 stone below normal body weight
• Sauna• Sweat suits – exercise and hot baths• Starvation and dehydration• Laxatives• Diuretics (banned 1999)• Vomiting (flipping)
A Day in the Life of..
• 05.00 – 05.30 in the yard mucking out etc and then rides out ( 4 horses)
• 09.00 breakfast – toast dry and tea with 4 sugars.
• 2 more lots• Lunch – nothing• Yard work• Evening – chocolate bar, pasta salad, oven
chips.• Race rides – not many at the moment.
Race Day
• Current weight 10st 2 lbs. Race weight 9st 7lb – 9st 10lbs
• Day before a race: no food tea with 4 sugars gym black bags - sleep sauna
• Can lose 8- 9 lbs this way• Has to do this as not many races at that
time
Rapid Weight Loss
• Poor performance skills• Lack of strength and stamina• Dehydration • Reduced muscle glycogen• Increase in stress fractures -
osteoporosis• Kidneys, cardiac disorders• Eating disorders / disordered eating• Burnout, fatigue depression
The Extent of the Problems
• An Investigation into appropriate Weight Standards in Top Level Irish Flat and National Hunt Jockeys
• Dr Giles Warrington, Dr Adrian McGoldrick & Dr Michael Griffin
• January 2006
Study of Top Irish Jockeys
• 18 Flat (6 Apprentices)• 10 National Hunt• Whole Body Dexa Scan• Anthropometry• Hydration Analysis (Urine Specific Gravity)• Haematology• Musculo-Skeletal Screen• Nutritional Analysis• Lifestyle Questionnaire
Hydration Analysis, Non-Race Day
Flat Jockeys
Urine SG
Mean: 1.022
SD: 0.005
Range: 1.007-1.028
National Hunt Jockeys
Urine SG
Mean: 1.021
SD: 0.007
Range: 1.011-1.031
Hydration Analysis, Race Day
• 14 Jockeys Volunteered• Urine samples collected over the day’s racing• All 14 Jockeys were dehydrated• 93% had high to severe levels of dehydration• Dehydration increased during the course of the
day• Similar findings to a pilot study McGoldrick et al
2003
Haematology
In a number of Jockeys evidence of:
• Deficiency in trace elements
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Vitamin deficiency
• Low white cell count
• Borderline thyroid function
• Compromised renal function
Summary of other key findings
• 54% of Flat & 40% of N Hunt osteopenic in either spine, hip or both
• Compared to age matched males 20% (spine) 8% (hip)
• The 6 Apprentices had the lowest BMI and body fat levels and the worst problems with bone mineral density, 4 being osteopenic, 2 osteoporotic
Summary of other key findings
• 88% of Flat and 70% of N Hunt had body fat levels of 10% or less with some as low as 6%
• Body fat range for health (men) 13-18%• High incidence of fracture• Flat ate a third, NH ate less than ½ of fibre RDA • Approx half of the recommended amount of fluid• 54% stated that the most difficult aspects of
being a Jockey were weight control issues and the low calorie intake
Tackling the problem
The Jockey Club team• A service to provide dietary &
nutritional information and advice to Jockeys, other individuals and organisations involved with racing
Challenges
• Fear of white coats• Reluctance to talk • Myths and legends• Closed environment• Have to gain trust and understand
their problems and motivation
A high carbohydrate diet aids recovery of muscle glycogen stores
Adapted from Costill DL, Miller JM. Int J Sports Med 1980;1:2–14
Services Include
• Individual consultations
• Dietary analysis
• Information and advice for lifestyle
• Telephone help line
• Information and guidance for race course caterers
• Race course visits.
Achievements
• News letter- jockeys and stable lads• Fact sheets• Calorie counted diet sheet 1200 -
800• Training the “Travelling Tea Boy”• Colour coded guidance for nutrients• Catering Guidelines• Presence & displays at racecourses
while Jockeys are racing
Race-Course Visits
• 2002 – introductory visits
• 2003 – weight management seminars
• 2004 – photographs focusing on hidden fats
• 2005 – fluids and effect of dehydration
meal planning
• 2006 – 54321 diet, calcium and iron
• 2007 – Superfoods
• 2008 – Weekly meal plans & shopping lists
• 2009 – Recipe book (in development)
For the same kcalories you could have all of this
• 2 Weetabix
• 150 ml Semi skimmed milk
• 150 ml Orange juice
Working with Jockeys
• Established Sports Dietetics Team• Acceptance by the Jockeys-openness• Recognition by horse-racing organisations• Apprentices - to focus on• Racecourse catering - to improve on• Trainers - not fully aware of the potential
of good nutrition for Jockeys• Lots more challenges ahead!