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Content warning: This story contains references to disordered eating and extreme weight-loss strategies, which may be upsetting or triggering for some readers.

At her very first powerlifting meet, Brittainy Chown had already noticed a pressure to “weigh in” as light as possible in order to nab the top spot. A former collegiate track athlete, Chown turned to powerlifting—a sport that involves lifting as much weight as possible for one single rep—to tap into her recent appreciation for strength training while satisfying her need to compete.

But it took her about a year to finally commit to a meet. Her years of running five-plus hours a day had made her body small and lean. It was hard to shake the nagging feeling that she needed to be “this super thin, skinny” athlete. “I was kind of embarrassed about what my weight had gotten up to in the year that I had taken off from any kind of exercise,” she says. “I personally felt like I needed to lose weight to get into what I was considering a more favorable weight class, as far as, like, what I wanted to be known as.”

Chown spent somewhere between six and eight months trying to lose weight before her first meet, ultimately dropping 20 pounds in that period. For the next four years, Chown said she “forced” herself to stay within the 75-kilogram (165-pound) weight class. But by 2018, her lifts were plateauing. She was suffering injury after injury, she recalled. In her ninth meet, the then-27-year-old had lifted a total of 881.8 pounds across her bench press, squat, and deadlift—more than 100 pounds less than what she had lifted in a competition just eight months prior.

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Although many of the powerlifters in her circle encouraged her to embrace weight gain—and, in turn, muscle and strength—and bump up a class, “in my brain, I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll get stronger, but I’m also heavier, so it doesn’t matter,’” she recalls. “As if it doesn’t count in the same way, which is stupid, but in my brain, that’s what made sense.”

Chown’s experience is not an isolated case; up to 70 percent of elite athletes competing in weight-class sports diet and report having some type of disordered eating pattern to reduce weight before a competition, according to a 2012 study published in Sports Health. In recent surveys of American Olympic weightlifters, many indicated that competing without cutting weight seemed “unimaginable.” The pressures surrounding body weight in competitive sports can have serious mental and physical health effects, ultimately leading to behaviors that can be harmful.

Understanding the Importance of Body Weight in Powerlifting

In powerlifting, athletes are categorized into specific weight classes, which can determine their chances of success in competition. USA Powerlifting divides female competitors into 11 weight classes, impacting how they train, diet, and perceive their own capabilities. While the sport promotes a “you versus you” mentality, there remains significant pressure to perform in lighter weight categories.

Powerlifting is promoted as a “you versus you” sport—you’re striving to be the best, strongest version of yourself.

Coaches emphasize that maintaining weight within a particular class can enhance competitive scores due to a common scoring methodology that rewards lifting heavier at lower body weights, resulting in a higher DOTS score—a measure of strength relative to body weight. This creates a competitive landscape where weight becomes a pivotal focus, often overshadowing overall health and well-being.

“We’re all pretty ingrained early on that in order to win the meet, you have to lift the most weight at the lightest body weight,” Chown explains. “That’s going to be what’s going to give you the highest score.” Such values often lead athletes to engage in unhealthy weight-loss practices, risking both mental and physical health to stay competitive.

The Dangers of Extreme Weight Loss

Some athletes resort to extreme, short-term weight-loss techniques that can compromise their health. A study showed that over 83 percent of surveyed athletes reported using drastic methods, including meal skipping and fluid restriction, to meet weight requirements. These practices can lead to negative psychological impacts, including anxiety and feelings of isolation, alongside physical health problems such as increased injury risk.

As a coach, Ribble has observed many new lifters setting their weight benchmarks to prove themselves within the powerlifting community, often leading to damaging cycles of weight fluctuation and dissatisfaction. For many athletes, the desire to fit within a certain weight class can create mental barriers that affect both their performance and emotional health.

“For the first time in my life, I was eating to manage my weight and not eating to fuel my training.” —Brittainy Chown

This shift in mindset can lead to disordered eating patterns that affect an athlete’s social life and overall well-being, creating an unhealthy relationship with food and body image. Chown’s journey reflects this struggle, having transitioned from eating to perform to obsessively managing her weight—an experience that took a significant toll on her mental health.

Finding Freedom Beyond Weight Class

After several years of unhealthy practices and decreased performance, Chown made the decision to move away from her restrictive weight class approach. Embracing a mindset of growth, she learned to fuel her body adequately for her training while allowing her weight to increase naturally.

“It’s such a good feeling to not be so stressed over a weight class, and I can just focus on the training.” —Brittainy Chown

Ultimately, Chown found success and increased strength once she allowed herself to compete in a weight class that aligned more organically with her body’s needs. She now competes in the 198-pound category and emphasizes the importance of enjoying the sport and understanding that her weight does not define her strength or identity as an athlete.

Ribble concurs, asserting that while some may find benefits in cutting weight, the sacrifices to mental and physical health often outweigh the potential competitive advantages. Powerlifting, for many, is about more than the trophies—it’s a journey toward self-acceptance and strength building, and that journey should not be compromised by the numbers on a scale.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline at 1-866-662-1235 for immediate support or go to allianceforeatingdisorders.com or anad.org/get-help for more resources.