Case Study: Extreme Weight Making Causes Relative Energy Deficiency, Dehydration, and Acute Kidney Injury in a Male Mixed Martial Arts Athlete

Kasper, Andreas; Crighton, Ben; Langan-Evans, Carl; Riley, Philip; Sharma, Asheesh; Close, Graeme L.; Morton, James P.

doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0029

Cited by 51 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We highlight the fact that there are more sensitive and specific markers to evaluate acute kidney injury than BUN and serum creatinine [ 35 ], given that recent evidence suggest that the BUN-to-creatinine ratio is not a reliable parameter for distinguishing prerenal from intrinsic acute kidney injury [ 36 ]. Our findings did not reveal negative impact on kidney health, contrary to what has been reported in participants that abuse of dehydration methods and diuretics to making weight [ 15 , 37 ], but further research is needed with more sensitive markers and long term monitoring to assess properly the impact of RWL and RWG.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Abuse of pharmacological drugs (e.g., diuretics), large restrictions in energy intake, less muscle recovery, and extreme dehydration methods are strategies frequently used by fighters [ 13 , 14 ]. In fact, the common belief of the mandatory making weight practice within the “ring/cage community” results in a self-administered procedure, which increases notably the risk of relative energy deficiency, severe dehydration, and potential acute kidney injury and health risk [ 15 , 16 ]. There have been several episodes of serious side effects and even death in athletes that aimed to make weight before fight events [ 1 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Acute Effects of Supervised Making Weight on Health Markers, Hormones and Body Composition in Muay Thai Fighters

Cannataro

Cione

Gallelli

et al. 2020

Sports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Making weight is a practice often used in combat sports. This consists of a rapid weight loss (RWL) and a subsequent rapid weight gain (RWG) in the days preceding competition. However, this practice is often carried out based on anecdotal information provided by ex-athletes or non-professionals, which has led to several adverse events. This study aimed to assess the acute effects of a supervised nutritional period of RWL/RWG on health markers, hormone concentrations, and body composition. We performed a single-arm repeated-measures (baseline, after RWL and after RWG) clinical trial with twenty-one (8F:16M) Italian Muay Thai fighters. Body mass was significantly lower after the RWL (−4.1%) while there was a significantly higher glucose availability after RWL and RWG. Blood urea nitrogen, lipid profile, and creatinine were within the normal range after RWL/RWG. Testosterone decrease significantly after RWL and RWG in the men group. Male fighters had a significant reduction in thyroid-stimulating hormone concentration after the RWL and RWG intervention, but no change was found in women at pre-competition. Bioelectrical parameters were almost fully restored after RWG. An evidence-based and individualized nutrition methodology reduces the adverse events after an RWL and RWG practice, although the impact on the hormonal profile is inevitable.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Effects of Supervised Making Weight on Health Markers, Hormones and Body Composition in Muay Thai Fighters

Cannataro

Cione

Gallelli

et al. 2020

Sports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, in the absence of these characteristics, it can impair performance and health [ 14 , 15 ]. According to publicized reports of the harmful (and even fatal) effects of pre-competition weight loss, the most dangerous health-related consequences of rapid weight loss are attributed to severe dehydration [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Detailed discussion on the performance and health effects of different pre-competition weight loss methods can be found in previous reviews [ 7 , 11 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-Competition Weight Loss Models in Taekwondo: Identification, Characteristics and Risk of Dehydration

Janiszewska

Przybyłowicz

2020

Nutrients

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Athletes use different combinations of weight loss methods during competition preparation. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize pre-competition weight loss models, which describe these combinations. The second aim was to determine if any existing model pose a higher risk of severe dehydration and whether any of the models could be continued as a lower-risk option. The third aim was to explore whether athletes who used different weight management strategies could be differentiated based on age, sex, training experience or anthropometric parameters. Study participants were randomly selected from Olympic taekwondo competitors and 192 athletes were enrolled. Active (47% weight-reducing athletes), passive (31%) and extreme (22%) models have been described. In the extreme model, athletes combined the highest number of different weight loss methods (3.9 ± 0.9 methods vs. 2.4 ± 0.9 in active and 1.5 ± 0.6 in passive), reduced significantly more body mass than others (6.7 ± 3.5% body mass vs. 4.3 ± 1.9% and 4.5 ± 2.4%; p < 0.01) and all of them used methods with the highest risk of severe dehydration. The active and passive models could be continued as a lower-risk option, if athletes do not combine dehydrating methods and do not prolong the low energy availability phase. The extreme model carried the highest risk of severe dehydration. Every fifth weight-reducing taekwondo athlete may have been exposed to the adverse effects of acute weight loss. Taekwondo athletes, regardless of age, sex, training experience and anthropometric parameters, lose weight before the competition and those characteristics do not differentiate them between models.

show abstract

“…MMA was established on the international stage as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993, but despite being one of the fastest-growing international sports [12], only recently have reports begun to emerge on the weight-making practices of these athletes [7,8,13,14,15,16,17]. One survey described MMA athletes losing 9% ± 2% of body mass in the week before a fight, and a further 5% ± 2% in the 24 h before weigh-in [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence, Magnitude and Methods of Rapid Weight Loss Reported by Male Mixed Martial Arts Athletes in Ireland

Connor

Egan

2019

Sports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rapid weight loss (RWL) is frequently practiced in weight category sports, including Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The aim of the present study was to describe self-reported methods of RWL in a sample of competitive MMA athletes comprising of both amateur and professional fighters. The previously-validated Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire, with the addition of questions on water loading and hot salt baths, was completed anonymously online by athletes (n = 30; all male, n = 15/15 professional/amateur) from MMA clubs around Dublin, Ireland. All but one (97%) of the athletes surveyed lost weight in order to compete, with the average weight loss being 7.9% ± 3.1% of habitual body mass. The RWL score (mean ± SD) for this sample was 37.9 ± 9.6, and a tendency for higher [6.0 (95%CI; −1.1, 13.1) (p = 0.093; d = 0.64)] RWL scores for professional (40.8 ± 8.9) compared to amateur (34.8 ± 9.6) athletes was observed. Frequencies of “always” or “sometimes” were reported as 90% for water loading, 76% for hot salt baths and 55% for 24 h of fasting. Fellow fighters (41%) and coaches/mentors (38%) were “very influential” on RWL practices of these athletes, with doctors (67%), dietitians (41%), and physical trainers (37%) said to be “not influential”. RWL is highly prevalent in MMA across both amateur and professional athletes, and RWL scores are higher than other combat sports. Water loading and hot salt baths are amongst the most commonly used methods of RWL despite little research on these methods for body mass reduction or effects on performance in weight category sports.

show abstract

Case Study: Extreme Weight Making Causes Relative Energy Deficiency, Dehydration, and Acute Kidney Injury in a Male Mixed Martial Arts Athlete

Cited by 51 publications

References 29 publications

Acute Effects of Supervised Making Weight on Health Markers, Hormones and Body Composition in Muay Thai Fighters

Acute Effects of Supervised Making Weight on Health Markers, Hormones and Body Composition in Muay Thai Fighters

Pre-Competition Weight Loss Models in Taekwondo: Identification, Characteristics and Risk of Dehydration

Prevalence, Magnitude and Methods of Rapid Weight Loss Reported by Male Mixed Martial Arts Athletes in Ireland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About