Pre Competition Weight Loss of Athletes

The objective of this observational study is to assess the long-term impact of a combined slow and rapid weight reduction strategy on the physiological performance, mental state, and sleep quality of male freestyle wrestlers. The primary question it seeks to address is:

Does the combined weight reduction approach affect the physiological performance, mental state, and sleep quality of male freestyle wrestlers during the pre-competition period?

Participants will undergo tests at three stages of their weight reduction process (T1, T2, T3) over a period of 38 days prior to the competition, providing data on various physiological and psychological indicators.

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the long-term effects of a combined slow and rapid weight reduction strategy on the physiological performance, mental state, and sleep quality of male freestyle wrestlers over the period leading up to a competition. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does the combined weight reduction approach affect the physiological performance, mental state, and sleep quality of male freestyle wrestlers when implemented during the pre-competition phase?

Participants, who are already undergoing this weight reduction strategy as part of their regular training regimen for the 2024 Chinese Wrestling Championships, will be assessed at three distinct time points over a 38-day period. The study will involve the following detailed procedures:

Participant Selection: The study includes 16 male freestyle wrestlers from Sichuan Province, China, with an average age of 20.2 years, and extensive competitive experience.

Study Duration: The observation period spans 38 days prior to the competition, divided into a 30-day slow weight reduction phase and a 7-day rapid weight reduction phase, with the final assessment conducted the day before the competition.

Data Collection: Participants will undergo a series of tests at three time points (T1, T2, T3):

T1: First day of slow weight reduction. T2: First day of rapid weight reduction. T3: The day before the competition.

Testing Indicators:

Physiological performance will be measured through heart rate, blood pressure, blood tests for markers like creatine kinase, testosterone, and immunoglobulin G, body composition analysis, and anaerobic power testing.

Mental state will be evaluated using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, assessing mood dimensions such as tension, anger, fatigue, depression, energy, confusion, and self-esteem.

Sleep quality will be assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, a questionnaire that evaluates sleep quality over the past month.

Data Analysis: The study will analyze changes in physiological performance, mental state, and sleep quality from T1 to T3, looking for significant differences that may indicate the impact of the weight reduction strategy.

Ethical Considerations: The study is approved by the Ethics Committee for Human Experiments at Sichuan Sports College and adheres to the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provide informed consent.

Study Hypothesis: There will be significant differences in the changes in physiological performance, mental state, and sleep quality of male freestyle wrestlers during the pre-competition slow and rapid weight reduction training period.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must be male freestyle wrestlers aged 18 years or older
* Athletes should be preparing for the 2024 Chinese Wrestling Championships
* Individuals must be willing to undergo all tests and assessments at the three specified time points (T1, T2, T3) over the 38-day study period
* Participants should be in good health, with no medical conditions that would prevent them from completing the study
* Athletes must be undergoing a combined slow and rapid weight reduction strategy as part of their regular training regimen

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals with a history of severe cardiovascular, metabolic, or endocrine disorders that could affect the study outcomes
* Wrestlers who are unable to comply with the study's testing schedule or intervention protocols
* Participants with any condition that would make them unsuitable for the anaerobic power testing or blood sampling
* Wrestlers who are unwilling or unable to provide informed consent