Weight loss practices, perceptions, and eating disorders among Chinese female adolescent combat sports athletes

Zhong, Yuming and Langan-Evans, Carl and Weldon, Anthony and Roberts, Charlie J. and Gee, Thomas I and Lakicevic, Nemanja and Xu, Kai and Zheng, Hang and Tao, Meiling and Deng, Hengzhi and Zhang, Boyi and Wu, Yukun and Liu, Shaoyun and Jiang, Haidong and Qiu, Junqiang and Li, Yongming (2025) Weight loss practices, perceptions, and eating disorders among Chinese female adolescent combat sports athletes. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. ISSN 1747-9541

Preview

Text RG-WeightLossPracticesPerceptionsandEatingDisorders.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (698kB)

Abstract

This study investigated the weight loss (WL) practices, perceptions, and eating disorders (ED) symptoms of Chinese female adolescent combat sport (CS) athletes. An adapted Rapid WL Questionnaire (RWLQ) and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire 8 (EDE-Q8) were completed during the off-season of female adolescent CS athletes to provide WL practices, perceptions, and global ED score. There were 130 and 78 respondents for the adapted RWLQ and EDE-Q8, respectively. Seventy-three percent of participants purposefully engaged in WL practices. The average habitual WL was 8.0% of body mass (BM), and the average highest WL was 9.1% of BM. Participants predominantly allocated 15 + days before the weigh-in for WL (65%). Coaches were most commonly reported as the primary guides for WL (64%). Athletes engage in WL mainly to compete against lighter opponents (65%). Most participants perceived that WL had no impact on health (51%), is beneficial to performance (52%), and does not lead to unfair competition (79%). Only six percent of participants were considered as having ED symptoms. No significant differences or association in global ED scores and ED symptoms were observed across any examined dependent variables. The prevalence and magnitude of WL are high amongst Chinese female adolescent CS athletes. Most athletes adopted long-term strategies to lose a substantial percentage of their BM. Athletes’ WL practices did not differ according to their perceptions regarding the impact of WL on performance, health, or fairness. Off-season prevalence of ED symptoms and global ED score showed no significant differences or associations with athletes’ habitual WL behaviors.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1177/17479541251377640
Dates:	Date Event 27 August 2025 Accepted 16 October 2025 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Body mass loss, dehydration, dieting, disordered eating, plastic suits
Subjects:	CAH03 - biological and sport sciences > CAH03-02 - sport and exercise sciences > CAH03-02-01 - sport and exercise sciences
Divisions:	Life and Health Sciences > Life and Sports Sciences
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	24 Oct 2025 13:11
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2025 13:11
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16691

Actions (login required)

View Item