In most combat sports, competitors are separated into weight divisions in an attempt to “create an even playing field.” Prior to competition, athletes must attend an official “weigh-in” and have their body mass (BM) verified to ensure they have “made weight.” The period of time between weigh-in and competition differs between combat sports, however a recovery period of at least 3 and up to 24 h exists among the Olympic combat sports and an even greater time (>30 h) may be available in professional combat sports. Furthermore, athletes should evaluate and refine their weight-making and recovery practices from competition to competition.
Athletes should plan their weight-making strategy ahead of time and practice this prior to important competitions.Athletes should develop a thorough understanding of the optimal nutritional strategies involved in recovery and combine them with practices identified as making them “feel good.” Preferably, they should focus on suitable carbohydrate sources and appropriate fluid intakes in the form of familiar foods trialed ahead of competition.By strategically manipulating dietary intake of fiber, carbohydrate, sodium and fluid, athletes can minimize the requirement for sweating to make weight and the associated health risks of excessive dehydration.
Both chronic and acute weight losses (often in the form of extreme dehydration) are commonly used to “make weight.” These practices correlate with competitive success in certain sports however, they can be detrimental to one’s health and absolute physical performance if not sensibly implemented.Combat (and other weight category) sports athletes commonly reduce body mass in an effort to compete in weight divisions below their day-to-day training weight.
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