Effects of rapid weight loss on Taekwondo athletes

In combat sports, the body mass has a great relevance for the determination of the category that the athlete will compete. Thus, weighing has a relevance in the competitive environment of these modalities. In Taekwondo it is common for athletes to lose body mass using strategies that harm health and performance. The objective of the present study was to identify the influence, strategies and symptoms of body mass loss of athletes participating in the 2016 Brazilian Taekwondo Championship. A questionnaire called Pre-Competitive Weight Loss Questionnaire was applied. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. Of the 30 participating athletes, 29 athletes (96.66%) reported losing weight to compete. The athlete's coach/master is the biggest influencer for pre-competitive weight loss. The most used strategies are reducing fluid intake, increasing the amount of training and omitting meals. Dizziness was the main symptom found in athletes seeking rapid weight loss before competition. These findings suggest the importance of further promoting the discussion aimed at the health of the athlete in identifying how this rapid weight loss is carried out, the consequences, the professionals who guide it, as well as the risks to which athletes are exposed.