Abstract
Different methods of rapid weight management before competition are widespread across combat sports. Athletes try to reduce their weight before the weighing-in by radical changes to water and caloric intake and output.
Although it has been shown that these methods negatively impact physical performance and mood, the evidence is fragmentary. In our study, 19 fighters reduced 5% of their body weight in 7 days and recover within 2 hours.
Each day, they recorded mood in standardized questionnaires measuring positive and negative states (PANAS) and mood (POMS) before Rapid Weight loss (RWL), during RWL, after RWL, and after Rapid Weight Gain (RWG). Using mixed-effect models, we observed a statistically significant decline in mood from pre-RWL to post-RWL (110.8% increase in mood disturbance, 41.4% increase in negative emotion, and 26.6% decrease in positive emotion).
After RWG, we observed a statistically significant improvement in mood and affective states compared to post-RWL (100% decrease in total mood disturbance, 29.3% decrease in negative emotions, and 26.6% increase in positive emotions). Our results support previous findings that RWL negatively affects mood.
However, after RWG, mood and affective states have returned to similar levels as before the RWL.