How Do Retired Sumo Wrestlers Lose Weight?
A case study on a retired yokozuna wrestler
Sumo wrestling is by no means an easy sport, and perhaps hardest of all is afterwards, when a wrestler decides to retire.
When a sumo wrestler decides to retire, a return to a normal lifestyle means a return to a normal weight — no easy feat when you’ve been trained to gain weight. While sumo wrestlers tend to be a different kind of obese when it comes to weight gain, as they are more muscular and have more subcutaneous fat than visceral fat, it’s a myth that their extra weight has no negative effects (Asahi). Retired sumo wrestlers who fail to lose weight often struggle with chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and are vulnerable to heart attacks and liver problems. In fact, they have a life expectancy of about 60 to 65, while the average in Japan for males is 81 years old (Japan Times).
On top of this, wrestlers who meet sumo’s top division tend to struggle more than most after they retire, as those in the top division weigh 160kg (350lb) on average, which is 24kg more than the average sumo wrestler (Japan Times).
But there’s a man who despite these challenges, overturned these beliefs about retired sumo wrestlers: Former yokozuna sumo champion, Takanohana Koji.
