Question

An athlete could experience a reduction in performance by losing __% of body weight during exercise.

a) 1-2%
b) 3-4%
c) 5-6%
d) 7-8%

Answer 1

A performance reduction in athletes can occur with a loss of over 2% of body weight due to dehydration, which impairs essential physiological functions critical to physical performance.

Step-by-step explanation:

An athlete could experience a reduction in performance by losing 2% of body weight during exercise. Even mild levels of dehydration can impair physical performance. When an athlete loses more than 2% of their body weight in fluids, they're considered to be in a state of dehydration, which can lead to a decrease in blood volume, diminished skin blood flow, reduced sweat rate, increased core temperature, and a decrease in cardiac output. All of these physiological responses can negatively affect an athlete's performance, making adequate hydration critically important during physical activity.