Influence of body weight reduction on maximal oxygen uptake in female elite athletes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of weight reduction on maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O 2 max and running speed in endurance‐trained female elite athletes. Seven (the cases) of the 33 subjects reduced a significant amount of body weight (BW) within a period of 2 months. The cases showed a significant decrease in V̇O 2 max and running speed relative to controls during the weight reduction period (WRP). A considerable loss in BW might have prevented cases from achieving a training‐induced increase in V̇O 2 max and running speed similar to controls during the WRP. Six cases maintained low BW and all 7 improved V̇O 2 max relative to controls 1 year after the WRP.