Rapid weight loss (RWL) is commonly practiced among judo athletes for gaining the advantage over their lighter opponents. Previous studies reported that RWL adversely impact the athlete's performance and overall well-being. However, a recent meta-analysis including 14 trials on 1,103 judo athletes showed that achieving ≥5% RWL over ≤7-day period yielded conflicting findings in physiological parameters. Nonetheless, the data suggested that the feelings of tension, anger, and fatigue significantly increased while a decrease in vigor among athletes who lost weight rapidly. Thus, the psychological impact of weight management for judo players has to be taken into account during training in order to optimize the athlete’s overall performance.

Keyword: Judo, rapid weight loss, psychological impact, feelings

Reference

Lakicevic et al., Nutrients. 2020 Apr 26;12(5):1220.