Observational studyJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition2025
Hey athlete, you need to cut weight: weight loss guidance practices and perceptions of Chinese combat sports coaches.
Observational study in Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effect of high-intensity interval training on aerobic capacity, physical fitness, and body composition in martial arts athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Do coaches and athletes share the same weight-loss practices and perceptions? Insights from 23 combat sport teams.Frontiers in nutrition · 2026Article
- Weight loss practices, perceptions, and eating disorder symptoms among Chinese male adolescent combat sports athletes.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
17 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWeight loss (WL) before competition is a widespread practice in combat sports (CS). Among the various factors influencing athletes' WL practice, coaches are consistently identified as the most influential in terms of guiding athletes' WL practices. However, little is known about coaches' guidance practices and perceptions of WL. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the WL guidance practices and perceptions of Chinese CS coaches.
methodsThe study employed an observational cross-sectional approach and adopted convenience sampling. The questionnaire consisted of 22 questions and featured four sections: (i) general information, (ii) personal experience, (iii) WL guidance practice, and (iv) perception about WL. It employed different response formats, including (i) 6 short-answer (fill-in-the-blank) questions, (ii) 15 single-choice questions consisting of 4 dichotomous items, 7 multiple-category items, and 4 Likert-type scale items, and (iii) 1 multiple-choice question. In total, 135 coaches completed the questionnaire and responses from 122 coaches (115 males, 7 females, 33.2 ± 7.1 years old) representing 10 CS modalities were included in the analysis.
resultsA high proportion of coaches reported being aware of their athletes' body mass (95%), as well as having previously required their athletes to undergo WL before competitions (96%), and having personally guided them through the WL process (94%). The primary basis for coaches' guidance on WL was their own experience as former athletes (81%). The most recommended WL method by coaches was increasing exercise (57%). The frequency of consultation with nutritionists/doctors did not differ significantly across coaching certification level (
conclusionsCoaches are the primary drivers of pre-competition WL practices in CS, actively requiring athletes to reduce weight to compete in lower categories. While many coaches recognize potential health risks, a substantial proportion perceive WL as neutral or beneficial, and their recommendations are often based on personal experience rather than scientific evidence. Coaches' perceptions influence the risk level of methods they recommend.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.