Weight control in contact sports implies an additional stress to competitors, mostly when strategies to reduce it are inadequate. The present work analyzes if a correct diet planning could decrease anxiety in competitors. The validated CSAI-2 questionnaire was used before and after the weight control with judo, karate and taekwondo competitors from both genders following a free diet vs those that followed a diet plan. Results indicated that the intensity for somatic and cognitive anxiety in the pre-weight event was lower in male and female competitors following a controlled diet. Regarding gender, no differences in anxiety intensity and directionality were observed between individuals following a free diet in the pre-weight event. Regarding sport discipline, judo and taekwondo practitioners presented higher somatic and cognitive anxiety than karate competitors did. Altogether, the correct control of the corresponding weight throughout the sports season decreases anxiety and increases self-confidence, allowing to the participants to focus on the contest objectives.
El control del peso en deportes de contacto implica un estrés adicional para los competidores, principalmente cuando las estrategias para bajar de peso son inadecuadas. El presente estudio analiza si un plan adecuado de dieta puede disminuir la ansiedad en los competidores. El cuestionario validado CSAI-2 fue utilizado antes y después del control de peso en judo, karate y taekwondo, competidores de ambos sexos siguieron una dieta libre y fueron contrastados con otros que siguieron un plan de dieta. Los resultados indicaron que la intensidad de la ansiedad somática y cognitiva antes del evento de pre peso, fue menor en hombres y mujeres que siguieron una dieta controlada. Respecto al género, no se identificaron diferencias en la intensidad y direccionalidad de la ansiedad entre individuos que siguieron una dieta libre en el evento de pre peso. Respecto al deporte, los practicantes de judo y taekwondo presentaron mayor ansiedad somática y cognitiva que los competidores de karate. En general, el control correcto del correspondiente peso durante de la temporada de deporte disminuye la ansiedad e incrementa la autoconfianza, permitiendo que los participantes se focalicen en los objetivos de la competencia.
Traditionally, anxiety has been considered as a negative emotional state (
The presence of anxiety in athletes and how this influences the achievement of certain goals is a complex area of investigation. Some authors interpret anxiety as a debilitating determinant (
The proximity of a tournament influences the psycho-physiological state of the competitor negatively, increasing anxiety intensity (
Therefore, the present work focuses on combat sport disciplines where the athletes are classified into weight categories. In these cases, competitors have to face the day before the competition a strict weight control, being disqualified if they do not enter in the corresponding category and throwing away all work performed during the season. Therefore, to achieve a correct weight could be considered as an organizational stressor in combat sport disciplines (
In combat sports, the ponderal objective is to maintain the highest weight possible in a certain category (
Since following a calorie-controlled diet is the healthiest method to achieve correct body weight, we have designed an intervention study to analyze the presence of anxiety in individuals competing in combat sport disciplines before and after the weight control event. To this end, two experimental groups were analyzed and compared; one group followed a supervised nutritional program (intervention group) while the other was allowed a free diet. To our knowledge, this is the first report studying pre-weight anxiety in combat sports comparing 2 experimental groups (free vs. supervised diet). We hope that the obtained results may provide evidence regarding the importance of diet in managing negative pre-weight anxiety states, thus helping the athletes to focus on their objectives (
This study was performed with
Due to the need to maintain a diet quality control of participants within the intervention, a smaller number of athletes was recruited to this group in comparison to the free diet group. Moreover, due to the lack of volunteers, no taekwondo participants or female karate athletes were recruited to the diet intervention group. In any case, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test assessed that all intervention groups were following a normal distribution as well as free-diet groups.
Participants were informed about the objectives and demands of the study and gave their written consent to participate. The protocol was under local legal requirements and the Helsinki Declaration for research on human beings and approved by the Project Evaluating Committee of the University. Anonymity was preserved for all participants.
The Spanish version (
The results obtained from the CSAI-2R were represented concerning intensity and directionality of anxiety. Intensity considers the dimension of CA, SA and SC parameters, while directionality refers to the personal appreciation (facilitative or debilitative) of the athlete and the possible influence on performance (
The questionnaires were distributed in the National University Championships for Judo, Karate and Taekwondo in 2011. The athletes participating in the study filled the questionnaire twice. The first time was 15 min before the weight control event (considered as the pre-weight test), which is performed the day before the contest. The second questionnaire was given 15 min before the warming exercises and referee’s control, which is just before the contest (considered the post-weight test).
The mean absolute values obtained for each group were analyzed to compare anxiety intensity and direction of competitors following a free diet vs. a supervised diet. Additionally, a change coefficient (CC) value was established to compare the pre-weight and post-weight tests, allowing intragroup analysis. This is calculated by subtracting the post-weight test results from the pre-weight tests. Negative values indicated that either intensity or directionality was higher in the pre-weight analysis compared to the post-weight. On the contrary, positive values for CC meant that intensity and directionality presented higher values after weight control.
The study consisted of comparing the CSAI-2R scores in groups of participants following a diet plan (JMD, KMD and JWD) after an interventional protocol to a control group that did not undergo any nutritional intervention. This last group was randomly recruited during the University National Championships of judo, karate and taekwondo where diet-intervention groups also participated.
The nutritional program of the athletes following a controlled diet was based on personalized diets that took in account meal distributions during the day, high protein intakes in meals ingested after training sessions and calorie restriction in meals far from the training sessions (
Caloric expenditure was theoretically estimated and divided into 3 components: resting metabolic rate, the thermal effect of feeding and physical activity expenditure. Resting metabolism was calculated according to the Harris-Benedict equation that takes into account for each gender the weight in kg, height in cm and the age in years. Corrected body weight was taken into account for calculations, considering ideal weight the upper limit of each weight category in the corresponding disciplines. The thermal effect of food was estimated as 8.50% of the sum of resting metabolic rate plus physical activity expenditure. The physical activity expenditure was estimated from published tables (
Diets were adjusted to strength exercises with explosive actions, including 1.60 -2.00 g of protein/day/kg of body weight, 1 g of fat/day/kg of body weight and 5-6 g of carbohydrates/day/kg of body weight (
Software SPSS® version 20.0 was used for data analysis. The results were expressed as means (standard deviation). One-sample K-S test (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test) was performed to assess if each variable fits a normal distribution. One-way ANOVA analyzed the data obtained in the different sport disciplines (judo, karate and taekwondo). T-test for independent samples was used to compare means between supervised diet group vs. free diet group (only for JMD, JWD and KMD). Test for related samples was used to compare means in the same group pre-
The key question of this study is to compare the anxiety levels of competitors that followed a free diet vs. those on a controlled diet in two critical moments of the contest (pre-weight and pre-competition). Although the population studied is very heterogeneous (different disciplines, different weight categories, different gender and different n), we can have an overall idea by comparing the free diet vs. the controlled diet group. The statistical analysis performed revealed only significant differences in certain specific parameters.
In this context, the pre-weight intensity of SA presented a score of 1.98 (0.62) in the free diet group and 1.38 (0.09) in the diet group, being the difference significant (
Regarding the post-weight (pre-competition) situation, the only significant value corresponded to SA intensity with a value of 0.31 (0.97) for free diet group and 1.44 (0.23) for the controlled diet group with a significant difference (
To analyze how competitors face the weight control event, those following a supervised diet (JMD, JWD and KMD) were compared to those following a free diet (JMC, JWC and KMC). Regarding male judo competitors (
Regarding female judo athletes (
Following in the context of the pre-weight event, KMC seems to present higher SA and SC intensities and lower CA intensity than KMD, but with no significant differences between both groups (
Since karate competitors seemed to undergo pre-weight anxiety states differently than judo practitioners, we have included post-weight anxiety in our analysis. When comparing male judo and karate athletes following a free diet, significant differences were observed between pre- (
Results expressed as mean (standard error of the
mean). Somatic Anxiety, Cognitive Anxiety and Self-Confidence correspond to
parameters of the CSAI-2 Questionnaire. Pre-weighing corresponds to the test
performed before the weight control and Post-weighing corresponds to test
performed before the competition. Intensity considers the dimension of CSAI-2
parameters, and Directionality refers to the personal appreciation of the
athlete and the possible influence in performance. M = men; MC = men control; MD = men diet; JM =
judo men; JMC = judo men control; JMD = judo men diet; KM = karate men; KMC =
karate men control; KMD = karate men diet; TM = taekwondo men; TMC = taekwondo
men control. *Results significantly different (see text).
Results expressed as mean (standard error of the
mean). Somatic Anxiety, Cognitive Anxiety and Self-Confidence correspond to
parameters of the CSAI-2 Questionnaire. Pre-weighing corresponds to the test
performed before the weight control and Post-weighing corresponds to the test
performed before the competition. Intensity considers the dimension of CSAI-2
parameters, and Directionality refers to the personal appreciation of the
athlete and the possible influence in performance. W = women; WC = women control; WD = women diet;
JW = judo women; JWC = judo women control; JWD = judo women diet; KW = karate
women; KWC = karate women control; TW = taekwondo women; TWC = taekwondo women
control. * Results significantly different (see
text).
If male taekwondo competitors were included in the comparison only for free diet groups, two major differences were observed. First, male judo athletes presented significantly higher pre-weight CA intensities than karate competitors (
These results suggest that some of the participants on a controlled diet (JMD and JWD) experienced less anxiety than those on a free diet, at the time of the weight control event. The CC value could be a good indication of this particular aspect (next section).
The CC for SA intensity in the JMC group was -0.14, being higher in the JMD group (0.78) (
When comparing intra-group individuals for the same sport discipline, it was observed that the JMC group did not present significant differences in SA or CA intensity when analyzing pre- and post-weight tests with a CC for SA = -0.14 and a CC for CA = -0.05 (
In male karate athletes (
Therefore, the results suggest that to follow a supervised diet seems to help a part of individuals of this study to experience lower pre-competition anxiety than those on a free diet. To complete this information, we have pooled data from the different groups and analyzed the influence of a supervised diet vs. a free diet on anxiety states.
ooling all groups, male competitors that followed a free diet (MC) presented higher SA intensity values in the pre-weight test compared to those that followed a diet plan (MD) (
Regarding the female athletes, SA intensity was higher in the pre-weight tests of the free diet group (WC) compared to those following a controlled diet plan (WD) (
Comparing both genders, the females that followed a diet plan presented more facilitative scores for SA directionality compared to males both in pre- (
The main goal of the present study has been to analyze the presence of anxiety in individuals competing in contact sport disciplines in the particular moment of the pre-weight control event, considering that a supervised diet will determine a more positive interpretation of anxiety symptoms. To see if this particularity influences the participant´s anxiety, we have measure anxiety levels just in the pre-weight event and compared to the pre-competition moment (post-weight event) in 2 populations of competitors, those that followed a free diet and those that followed a supervised diet by a certified nutritionist.
The obtained results strongly indicated that those individuals on a supervised diet during the season arrived at the weight control event with lower values of SA intensity and more facilitative scores of SA directionality than those individuals on a free diet. However, significant differences were not observed when CA parameters (intensity and directionality) were analyzed between both groups. A possible explanation is that CA represents a more subjective interpretation of anxiety and the heterogeneity of the overall populations analyzed so far (different sport disciplines, different weight categories, different genders and different n) could explain the lack of significance. Nevertheless, the analysis of the different subpopulations allowed to gain in homogeneity, giving more significant results.
In this context, the pattern observed, at least in judo practitioners (men and women), is that anxiety increases significantly in the pre-weight event in individuals following a free diet, except karate competitors. Additionally, judo and karate competitors following a supervised diet underwent higher levels of pre-competition (post-weight) anxiety compared to the anxiety undergone in the pre-weight event (CC = 0.78 for JMD and CC = 0.67 for KMD). The anxiety experienced was in very similar ranges that the anxiety observed for the corresponding free diet groups (JMC and KMC). This corresponds to precompetitive anxiety, and it seems that diet has a more positive influence in the SA directionality (more facilitative in the diet groups) and CA intensity than in SA intensity.
The question that could arise is if high precompetitive anxiety could be beneficial in combat sports. First, previous studies indicated that this increased level of anxiety is related to hormonal responses (
Nevertheless, this general assumption was not exactly extensive for certain specific groups: women judoists and karate competitors. In women, post-weight SA intensity was higher than pre-weight in JWC. The same tendency was observed for CA intensity in JWD, presenting as well more facilitative post-weight SA directionality. In this context, the evaluation of directionality performed by athletes is a reliable indicator of sports performance and helps establish a positive relationship between CA, SA and SC (
In any case, comparing genders, some authors indicated that women present higher CA and lower SC (
Regarding karate competitors, a possible explanation for the observed results is that competitors of Olympic disciplines (judo and taekwondo) could suffer higher levels of anxiety, considering most likely each contest as a transcendental situation for their sports career. In this context, both JMC and TMC groups presented higher anxiety levels (both SA and CA in the case of judo, and only SA in the case of taekwondo) compared to the KMC group. In any case, further work is necessary to study in more detail these particular points.
Competitors that do not follow a controlled diet program seem to present increased levels of somatic and cognitive anxiety when a tournament approaches, focusing mainly on the pre-weight event and not in the contest itself. Therefore, and as an applied implication, the use of an adequate nutritional control during the sports season preserves the health of competitors and reduces their stress levels, allowing them to concentrate more fully on the competition. In this context, it could be essential to provide the coaches with tools that will enable them to detect anxiety states in competitors, identifying at the same time if diet accomplishment could be acting as a stressor. At the same time, the work of nutrition professionals has to be considered as well, to avoid unhealthy diet strategies such as extreme caloric or liquid restrictions that can compromise competitors’ health and likely their own life.
However, this work presents some limitations that need to be considered. First, we have to study the possibility of inducing adequate nutritional habits in competitors following a free diet. Second, we have to equilibrate the number of participants in both groups, regarding sport discipline, gender and competitive level. Third, it could be interesting to consider additional variables that can modulate the anxiety levels of competitors, such as experience or number of success/defeats. Finally, and fourth, it could be interesting to follow competitors of both groups (free and supervised diet) during the season, including training sessions and not only during the contest day. This last could help to find factors that can modulate anxiety states in the moment of facing the competition.
Research article. This project was financed by the PROMETEO grant (2016/006) from Generalitat Valenciana to ER.