Abstract
BackgroundAs combat sports are classified by body mass, many athletes engage in rapid weight loss (RWL) prior to competition so they can gain an advantage over lighter opponents. Following the weigh-in, athletes engage in rapid weight gain (RWG), whereby some athletes have been able to compete up to three weight categories greater than the official division weighed in at.ResultsAlthough the impact of weight cycling on performance remains equivocal, robust scientific evidence indicates serious acute and chronic negative consequences on physiological and health-related parameters. Still, weight cycling remains highly prevalent in combat sports, and interventions to limit or stop this cultural norm are recommended.ConclusionsWeigh-ins for combat sports should be transitioned to take place closer to the start of competition. This reduced time and access to engage in RWG will cut down, if not completely prevent, weight cycling. These rule changes that aim to benefit athlete’s health and promote fairness must be made at the international level, which will promote them at those levels below, as well, given qualification protocols.
Highlights
As combat sports are classified by body mass, many athletes engage in rapid weight loss (RWL) prior to competition so they can gain an advantage over lighter opponents
American collegiate wrestlers have been found to return to the aggressive weight cutting methods once they have competed on an international level with rapid weight gain (RWG) magnitudes of up to ~ 17 kgs in under seven hours [57]
It is for this reason that experts in the field of combat sports are calling for other sports to implement weight loss regulations similar to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) [58]
Summary
The impact of weight cycling on performance remains equivocal, robust scientific evidence indicates serious acute and chronic negative consequences on physiological and health-related parameters. Weight cycling remains highly prevalent in combat sports, and interventions to limit or stop this cultural norm are recommended
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