The need of a weight management control program in judo: a proposal based on the successful case of wrestling

Judo is an Olympic sport practiced all over the world. Some studies reported that judo athletes present highly developed strength, anaerobic power and capacity, aerobic power, flexibility and low levels of body fat [1]. A more detailed comparison between elite and non-elite judo competitors revealed that high level judo athletes present more developed upper body muscle mass, higher upper body anaerobic power and capacity, and higher ability to perform high-intensity intermittent specific judo activities [2]. In all official competitions, judo athletes are paired with opponents of similar body weight through weight classes. The aim of such division is to ensure fairness and promote evenhanded combats in terms of strength, leverage and agility. However, it is well known that most judo competitors use several harmful methods of rapid weight loss in an attempt to classify for a lighter weight class and, by doing so, to obtain competitive advantage against lighter and weaker opponents [3].The rapid weight loss is a well documented problem in collegiate wrestling. Since the 1970's, studies have characterized the patterns of rapid weight loss among wrestlers [4,5]. Surveys addressing such patterns reported that ~80% of competitors engage in weight loss procedures [4,5]. According to these studies, the most prevalent nutritional strategies for reducing weight are severe fluid and food restriction, using saunas and heated rooms and exercising with rubberized suits. The use of diuretics, laxatives, diet pills and even self-induced vomiting are extreme methods often reported in the literature [4]. Athletes reduce body weight several times per season and the magnitude of weight cycling is of about 5% to 10% of body weight [4]. Athletes start losing weight very early in their competitive life. Although adolescence is the period during which athletes most often begin cutting weight, a few athletes might start unhealthy weight loss procedures at very early ages, as was the impress