Proposal of a healthy weight loss program in high performance male judo athletes

Summary

After a review of the current scientific literature we conclude that the commonly used methods in judo of rapid weight loss in the last days before competition with fluid restriction are not always beneficial for performance. Even so, they do seem to always be negative for health. Also during said review we have seen that the belief of its always beneficial effect on performance, and consequently the practice of said weight loss, is widely extended in the judo community, even compared to other combat sports. In view of these findings, we propose a methodological proposal to improve performance while maintaining body weight, in a healthy way. This works in a mixed way the aerobic resistance, the technique in fatigue and also the lactic capacity. One of the main points of this methodology is the departure of it from the period immediately adjacent to the competition, allowing a better achievement of the training periodization. Finally highlight the agreement that has been found in the scientific world, on the proper abolition of these procedures, even being in disagreement about its effect on performance. In this way, the scientific community advises against these processes due to the possible damage to health and the increased risk of injury, being the alert created greater for the populations of adolescents who practice it. To this end, several modifications to the competition regulations are proposed that would make it possible to avoid such practices.

After reviewing the recent scientific knowledge about weight loss involving judo competitions we conclude that rapid weight loss are being followed usually in pre-competition stages in judo. This is even more common with judo competitors tan with other combat sports athletes and starts at early ages. This weight loss is usually prosecuted with liquid restriction and during the last days previous to the competition. Moreover this is done regardless the warnings of the scientific community of this process not being proven in advance for performance, but already being proven in detriment of health. At sight of these findings we propose a different approach to the necessary weight loss. This proposal principal aim is to provide a healthy way to lose weight while pursuing performance. This proposal is based on a mixed training methodology which trains, aerobic resistance, technique in fatigue and lactic capacity. Instead of placing this weight loss on the last days before the competition we will move it reschedule it before to allow a better rest before the competition. Lastly we have to highlight the agreement on the scientific community on the harmful potential of these procedures and their warnings about following those, moreover when we refer to teenagers. Thus they propose some modifications to the competitive rules, for them to forbid and punish these procedures.