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Prevalence, Magnitude, and Methods of Rapid Weight Loss Among Judo Competitors

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Prevalence, Magnitude, and Methods of Rapid Weight Loss Among Judo Competitors Prevalence, Magnitude, and Methods of Rapid Weight Loss among Judo Competitors GUILHERME GIANNINI ARTIOLI1,2, BRUNO GUALANO1, EMERSON FRANCHINI2, FERNANDA BAEZA SCAGLIUSI3, MARIANE TAKESIAN1, MARINA FUCHS1, and ANTONIO HERBERT LANCHA JR1 1Laboratory of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, BRAZIL; 2Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sports, University of Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, BRAZIL; and 3Department of Health Sciences, Federal University of Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo, BRAZIL ABSTRACT ARTIOLI, G. G., B. GUALANO, E. FRANCHINI, F. B. SCAGLIUSI, M. TAKESIAN, M. FUCHS, and A. H. LANCHA. Prevalence, Magnitude, and Methods of Rapid Weight Loss among Judo Competitors. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 436–442, 2010. Purpose: To identify the prevalence, magnitude, and methods of rapid weight loss among judo competitors. Methods: Athletes (607 males and 215 females; age = 19.3 T 5.3 yr, weight = 70 T 7.5 kg, height = 170.6 T 9.8 cm) completed a previously validated questionnaire developed to evaluate rapid weight loss in judo athletes, which provides a score. The higher the score obtained, the more aggressive the weight loss behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and frequency analyses. Mean scores obtained in the questionnaire were used to compare specific groups of athletes using, when appropriate, Mann–Whitney U-test or general linear model one-way ANOVA followed by Tamhane post hoc test. Results: Eighty-six percent of athletes reported that have already lost weight to compete. When heavyweights are excluded, this percentage rises to 89%. Most athletes reported reductions of up to 5% of body weight (mean T SD: 2.5 T 2.3%). The most weight ever lost was 2%–5%, whereas a great part of athletes reported reductions of 5%–10% (mean T SD: 6 T 4%). The number of reductions underwent in a BASIC SCIENCES season was 3 T 5. The reductions usually occurred within 7 T 7 d. Athletes began cutting weight at 12.6 T 6.1 yr. No significant differences were found in the score obtained by male versus female athletes as well as by athletes from different weight classes. Elite athletes scored significantly higher in the questionnaire than nonelite. Athletes who began cutting weight earlier also scored higher than those who began later. Conclusions: Rapid weight loss is highly prevalent in judo competitors. The level of aggressiveness in weight management behaviors seems to not be influenced by the gender or by the weight class, but it seems to be influenced by competitive level and by the age at which athletes began cutting weight. Key Words: WEIGHT CONTROL, WEIGHT CLASSES, SURVEY, ATHLETES, MARTIAL ARTS udo is an Olympic sport practiced worldwide. Judo rubber or plastic suits, using saunas, taking diet pills, and competitions sort competitors into weight classes, as in even vomiting (2,8,17,19,21,22). Throughout a season, these Jwrestling and other combat sports. The purpose of the athletes regularly participate in many competitions and are classification is to ensure equitable matches in strength, therefore causing their body weight to fluctuate (19). agility, and leverage. Despite this effort, several studies with Since 1970, several surveys have characterized harmful wrestlers have shown that a large number of athletes sig- rapid weight loss behaviors among wrestlers (2,8,12,13, nificantly reduce their body weight a few days before com- 15–19,21,22). However, to the best of our knowledge, only petitions in an attempt to gain an advantage against lighter, a few studies have addressed weight management patterns smaller, and weaker opponents (2,12,17,19). To qualify in a in judo competitors and female athletes (6,9). In these studies, lighter weight division, these athletes use a combination of only a small number of athletes were evaluated (i.e., 20–30 several potentially harmful weight loss methods such as athletes), and all of them were elite competitors. Therefore, severe restriction of food and fluid intake, exercising in the information available regarding rapid weight loss be- haviors among this population is limited, and a large survey including athletes from a broad range of ages and compet- Address for correspondence: Guilherme Giannini Artioli, MS, Laboratory itive levels, and of both genders, has yet to be conducted. of Applied Nutrition and Metabolism, Av. Prof. Mello Moraes, 65 Cidade Universita´ria, Butanta˜,Sa˜o Paulo – SP, Brazil. CEP: 05508-900; E-mail: Despite a position stand by the American Medical [email protected]. Association (3) and two by the American College of Sports Submitted for publication June 2009. Medicine (1,14) clearly rejecting the unhealthy weight man- Accepted for publication August 2009. agement practices adopted by wrestlers, a large number of 0195-9131/10/4203-0436/0 athletes persist in constantly undergoing rapid weight MEDICINE & SCIENCE IN SPORTS & EXERCISEÒ reduction. In 1997, the deaths of three young athletes pre- Copyright Ó 2010 by the American College of Sports Medicine paring for wrestling competitions were related to severe DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181ba8055 acute dehydration and hyperthermia, which are both adverse 436 Copyright @ 2010 by the American College of Sports Medicine. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. effects associated with rapid weight loss (4). After these TABLE 2. Weight history reported by the judo competitors (all athletes were included in tragic events, certain rules were changed by the National the analysis). T Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the USA (e.g., a Variable Question Mean SD Range Off-season weight (kg) 12 71.1 T 19.4 30–168 minimum competitive weight was established for each Most weight lost (kg) 14 4.0 T 3.1 0–26 athlete on the basis of the preseason weight and body Most weight lost (%) 14 6.0 T 4.0 0–20 composition; the time between weigh-ins and first matches No. weight reductions in the last year 15 3 T 5 0–30 Average weight usually lost (kg) 16 1.6 T 1.6 0–12 was reduced; harmful weight loss methods were prohibited). Average weight usually lost (%) 16 2.5 T 2.3 0–16 As a result, rapid weight loss behaviors among wrestlers No. days in which weight is usually lost 17 7 T 7 1–60 Age began cutting weight (yr) 18 12.6 T 6.1 9–42 have become less harmful and aggressive (2,8,18). Weight usually regained in the week 19 1.6 T 1.4 0–8 Indeed, the effectiveness of rule changes in NCAA wres- after competitions (kg) tling competitions was only possible because they were based on scientific evidence provided by many surveys on rapid Janeiro), so a great number of athletes from different regions, weight loss. Despite some similarities between judo and ages, and weight classes could be found. In addition, we also wrestling, the main factors that drive weight loss behaviors are invited seven major judo clubs in Sa˜oPauloandRecifeState quite different (e.g., the weight classification system, the to take part in the survey. Therefore, the sample consisted of number of competitions per year, the scheduling and organ- athletes from a broad range of regions of Brazil, competitive ization patterns for competitions). For example, collegiate levels, ages, and weight classes. BASIC SCIENCES wrestling competitors are divided into 10 weight classes and During the competitions, the participants were approached interscholastic into 14 weight classes, whereas judo comprises randomly and invited to participate in the study. All re- only 7 weight classes. The smaller number of weight classes searchers recorded the number of athletes who refused to fill results in a greater weight interval between them, which may out the questionnaire. During competitions, the average lead athletes to adopt more severe weight loss behaviors. percentage of athletes who responded to the questionnaire È Furthermore, judo competitions also include women athletes, was 90%. The main reason for refusal to participate was a which are believed to be more prone to aggressive weight desire to keep focused on competition. During judo club visits, È management behaviors (10). Consequently, findings from the average percentage of refusal was 25%, with the main studies of wrestling athletes cannot be strictly extended to reason for refusal being a lack of time and the rush to go back judo athletes. home after training. All athletes received a complete expla- Considering the popularity of judo around the world, the nation of the study’s objectives, and if the athlete agreed to number of athletes at risk for health injuries due to rapid participate, he/she signed the written informed consent term weight loss has become a concern in the sports medicine field. and then filled out the questionnaire. In the case of minors, Thus, further studies should be conducted to characterize the the parents or the legal guardian were also provided with the patterns of rapid weight loss in judo. In view of this, the aim of explanations and they signed the written informed consent the present study was to evaluate the patterns of rapid weight term. During all procedures, we guaranteed the anonymity of loss in a large sample of competitive judo athletes. participants, and to maintain the athletes’ confidentiality, we required the coaches, parents, and friends to not interfere with the answering of questions and to not observe or comment on METHODS the answers. All the procedures received the approval of the Participants. Eight hundred twenty-two athletes (607 university’s ethics committee. males and 215 females) were sampled between 2006 and Survey tool. The survey tool used was the Portuguese 2008. To be included, participants had to be older than 12 yr version of the Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire (RWLQ), and be active judo competitors.
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