Zhong Yuming, Tang Weiwei, Gee Thomas I, Li Mengfan, Jiang Haidong, Yin Mingyue, Xu Kai, Lakicevic Nemanja, Drid Patrik, Kirk Christopher, Langan-Evans Carl, Artioli Guilherme Giannini, Reale Reid, Weldon Anthony, Li Yongming
Shanghai University of Sport, School of Athletic Performance, Shanghai, China.
Shanghai Elite Sport Training Administrative Center, Shanghai, China.
J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2025 Dec;22(1):2551216. doi: 10.1080/15502783.2025.2551216. Epub 2025 Aug 28.
Sanda is an unarmed combat sport (CS) comprises punching, kicking, throwing, wrestling, and defensive techniques that has increased in popularity. To ensure athletes compete against opponents of similar body size and weight for fairness, Sanda competition is classified according to weight classes. Previous studies revealed that CS athletes tend to intentionally lose weight to gain a competitive advantage over their opponents. However, little is known about weight loss (WL) practices in Sanda athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the WL practices of Chinese Sanda athletes.
In total, 169 (96 males, 73 females) national and international-level Sanda athletes completed the Rapid WL Questionnaire. Participants were categorized by sex (male, female), age (junior, senior), competition weight categories, and competitive levels (national, international).
Over half (56%) of athletes purposefully implemented WL practices pre-competition. Their mean habitual WL was 7.6 ± 3.7%, and mean highest WL was 10.8 ± 4.2%. Participants usually allocated 15+ days pre-competition for WL (64%). Their rapid WL score (RWLS) was 30.4 ± 6.4. There were no significant differences across Sanda athletes concerning habitual WL% ( = 0.386, = 0.542, = 0.207), highest WL% ( = 0.631, = 0.232, = 0.091), RWLS ( = 0.055, = 0.395, = 0.736) between junior and senior athletes, across weight categories, or between competitive levels. There were no significant differences in habitual WL% across WL time ( = 0.135). However, male athletes habitual WL% ( = 0.009), highest WL% ( = 0.002), number of WL in the last year between sexes ( = 0.048), and RWLS ( = 0.011) were significantly higher than female athletes. International athletes more frequently conducted WL per year than national athletes ( = 0.005). There were no significant differences in age groups ( = 0.447) and weight categories ( = 0.585). Participants usually allocated 15+ days before the competition for WL (64%), followed by 11-14 days (21%), 8-10 days (5%), 6-7 days (4%), 4-5 days (4%), and 1-3 days (1%). Training in plastic suits (87.4%), increasing exercise (85.2%), skipping meals (56.8%), limiting fluid intake (75.8%), gradually dieting (60.0%), and training in a heated room (54.7%) were the most frequently used WL practices for Sanda athletes. Sports coach (68.5%), strength and conditioning coaches/physical trainers (42.1%), other athletes (same sport) (39.0%), and parents (32.6%) were considered to have the highest impact on athletes' WL practices.
This study found the prevalence of WL is relatively low among Chinese national and international Sanda athletes, but the magnitudes are very high compared to other combat sports. Given that coaches have the greatest influence, the wider athlete support team must work cohesively with coaches to ensure that appropriate, individualized, and safe WL practices are applied.
散打是一项非武装格斗运动，包括拳击、踢腿、摔投、擒拿以及防守技术，其受欢迎程度不断提高。为确保运动员为了公平竞争而与体型和体重相近的对手比赛，散打比赛按体重级别进行分类。以往研究表明，格斗运动运动员倾向于故意减重以获得相对于对手的竞争优势。然而，关于散打运动员的减重做法知之甚少。因此，本研究的目的是调查中国散打运动员的减重做法。
共有169名（96名男性，73名女性）国家和国际级散打运动员完成了快速减重问卷。参与者按性别（男、女）、年龄（青少年、成年）、比赛体重级别和竞技水平（国家、国际）进行分类。
超过一半（56%）的运动员在赛前有目的地进行减重。他们的平均习惯性减重为7.6±3.7%，平均最高减重为10.8±4.2%。参与者通常在赛前分配15天以上的时间进行减重（64%）。他们的快速减重得分（RWLS）为30.4±6.4。在青少年和成年运动员之间、不同体重级别之间或不同竞技水平之间，散打运动员在习惯性减重百分比（=0.386，=0.542，=0.207）、最高减重百分比（=0.631，=0.232，=0.091）、RWLS（=0.055，=0.395，=0.736）方面没有显著差异。在减重时间方面，习惯性减重百分比没有显著差异（=0.135）。然而，男性运动员的习惯性减重百分比（=0.009）、最高减重百分比（=0.002）、去年两性之间的减重次数（=0.048）和RWLS（=0.011）显著高于女性运动员。国际运动员每年进行减重的频率高于国家运动员（=0.005）。在年龄组（=0.447）和体重级别（=0.585）方面没有显著差异。参与者通常在比赛前分配15天以上的时间进行减重（64%），其次是11 - 14天（21%）、8 - 10天（5%）、6 - 7天（4%）、4 - 5天（4%）和1 - 3天（1%）。穿着紧身衣训练（87.4%）、增加运动量（85.2%）、不吃饭（56.8%）、限制液体摄入（75.8%）、逐渐节食（60.0%）和在高温房间训练（54.7%）是散打运动员最常用的减重做法。体育教练（68.5%）、体能教练/体育教练（42.1%）、其他运动员（同一项运动）（39.0%）和家长（32.6%）被认为对运动员的减重做法影响最大。
本研究发现，中国国家和国际散打运动员的减重发生率相对较低，但与其他格斗运动相比幅度非常大。鉴于教练的影响最大，更广泛的运动员支持团队必须与教练密切合作，以确保采用适当、个性化和安全的减重做法。
