Does weight change relate to psychological variables and eating behaviours in combat sports?

Purpose Athletes who perform combat sports tend to engage in weight-management strategies to fit in a specific weight class that are characterized by disordered eating behaviours. This study aimed to (1) characterize eating behaviours and adaptation to stress regarding an unwanted weight change before a competition; (2) evaluate the differences between athletes who consider unwanted weight changes as a challenge or as a threat in regard to emotions, coping strategies and eating behaviours; and (3) evaluate whether some of these variables related to the unwanted weight change (e.g., emotions, cognitive appraisal of the situation) are predictors of disordered eating behaviours in combat sports. Methods A total of 166 combat sports athletes (75.3% male), aged between 14 and 56 years (M = 22.73; SD = 8.03), filled out a set of questionnaires that evaluated personal variables, cognitive appraisal (threat/challenge), coping, emotions, and eating behaviours related to an unwanted weight change before a competition. Results Most of the athletes (57.3%) reported high levels of stress related to the experience of an unwanted weight change before a competition. Athletes who perceived this experience as more of a threat had significantly more eating concerns, anxiety, dejection, anger, active confrontation and emotional support. Athletes who perceived it as more of a challenge experienced more excitement and happiness. Athletes who perceived a high threat and low challenge experienced significantly increased anxiety levels and athletes who perceived this experience as a low threat and the low challenge had decreased anxiety. The desire to weigh less, the perception of a threat regarding weight changes, the ability to cope with denial, and anxiety emerged as predictors of disordered eating behaviours. Conclusion To prevent or reduce disordered eating behaviours, it is important to promote adequate strategies to deal with weight changes before a competition and, consequently, positive emotions among sports combat athletes.