Prevalence and patterns of pre-competition weight loss practices in Chinese Amateur boxers

Zhong, Y, Lakicevic, N, Drid, P, Gee, TI, Tang, W, Sui, Y, Wen, C, Zheng, H, Yin, M, Chen, C, Zhao, Z, Xu, K, Kirk, C, Reale, R, Langan-Evans, C ORCID: 0000-0003-1120-6592, Artioli, GG, Weldon, A and Li, Y (2024) Prevalence and patterns of pre-competition weight loss practices in Chinese Amateur boxers. International journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 20 (1). pp. 281-290. ISSN 1747-9541

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Abstract

This study investigated the weight loss (WL) practices of Chinese amateur boxers using the Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire (RWLQ). A total of 701 (563 males, 138 females) boxers participated in the study and were categorized by sex, age group, and competitive level. Sixty-seven percent of boxers purposefully engaged in WL practices before competition. The average habitual WL was 6.0% (5.8% for juniors and 6.3% for seniors) of body mass (BM), with the average highest WL was 9.5% (9.1% for juniors and 10.1% for seniors) of BM. Most participants (69% for juniors and 84% for seniors) allocated 15+ days for WL before competition. No significant differences in habitual WL%, highest WL%, and rapid weight loss score (RWLS) were found between age groups or competitive levels (all p > 0.05). However, males’ highest WL% and RWLS were significantly higher than females (p &lt; 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). International boxers began WL later than local boxers (15.5 vs. 14.3 years, p = 0.012). National boxers began WL later than provincial and local boxers (15.6 vs. 14.8 years, p < 0.001; 15.6 vs. 14.3 years, p < 0.001). Increased exercise and training in plastic suits were the most frequently used WL methods. Coaches were identified as the most influential person concerning boxer's WL practices, surpassing doctors or nutritionists. This study found that some WL practices among Chinese boxers differ from those in other sports and countries. Although the prevalence of WL among junior boxers was relatively low, the magnitude of WL was high, warranting more attention in both academic and practical fields.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the accepted version of an article published in International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. Zhong, Y., Lakicevic, N., Drid, P., Gee, T. I., Tang, W., Sui, Y., Wen, C., Zheng, H., Yin, M., Chen, C., Zhao, Z., Xu, K., Kirk, C., Reale, R., Langan-Evans, C., Artioli, G. G., Weldon, A., & Li, Y. (2025). Prevalence and patterns of pre-competition weight loss practices in Chinese Amateur boxers. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 20(1), 281-290 Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Dehydration; dieting; gender; nutrition; plastic suit; weight cutting; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; Dehydration; dieting; gender; nutrition; plastic suit; weight cutting; 32 Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; 3202 Clinical Sciences; 42 Health Sciences; Women's Health; 11 Medical and Health Sciences; 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences; 32 Biomedical and clinical sciences; 42 Health sciences; 52 Psychology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Date of acceptance:	12 October 2024
Date of first compliant Open Access:	26 August 2026
Date Deposited:	26 Aug 2026 12:57
Last Modified:	26 Aug 2026 12:57
DOI or ID number:	10.1177/17479541241295314
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29202

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