Making weight for sports performance: implications for health of combat sport athletes in Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine implication of weightmaking practice (WMP) on health of combat sport athletes. Descriptive correlational design was used. The population comprised 80 combat sports athletes who participated in Kongfu, Wrestling, Boxing, Judo, Karate and Taekwondo in Kwara State of Nigeria. Sixty-four (64) of them (age range = 15 – 54 years; males n = 73.3% (44), weight 69.3 ± 10.6 kg and females n = 26.7% (20), weight 61.5 ± 11.6 kg) were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using a researcher developed questionnaire, which was validated and tested for reliability (r = .86). The SPSS version 20.0-application software was used for statistical analyses. Frequency counts and percentage were used to describe demographic data; mean and standard deviation were used for describing body composition. Chi-square was used to analyse the association between WMP and health, one-way ANOVA for the effect of sport on WMP and health. Hypotheses were tested for statistical significance at 0.05 alpha level. There was significant association between WMP and general health 2 (1) = 4.158, p = .034; Cramer’s V = .27, p = .034; odds= 1.2. There was significant association between WMP and health. after competition 2 (1) = 8.531, p = .003; Cramer’s V = .38, p =.003; odds = 1.4. There was no significant association between WMP and health during competition 2 (1) = 2.347, p = .187. Type of sport significantly influenced WMP, F (5, 58) = 2.458, p = .004, 2 = 0.228(22.8%); general health F (5, 58) = 4.240, p = .003, 2 = 0.185(18.5%); and health after competition; F (5, 58) = 2.597, p =.035, 2 = 0.194 (19.4%). In conclusion, the participants’ WMP may lead to physiological deviations and long-term health consequences. It was recommended that combat athletes and their coaches should be educated about the long-term effects of WMP on health and sports performance of athletes. Input of Exercise and Sport Scientists is vital for best practices in weight making.