Patterns of rapid weight loss and recovery of hydration/body composition in elite tug of war athletes

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dc.contributor.authorCastañeda Babarro, Arkaitz
dc.contributor.authorMartínez de Aguirre Betolaza, Aitor
dc.contributor.authorAgirre Elordui, Saioa
dc.contributor.authorCalleja González, Julio
dc.contributor.authorCayero Alcorta, Ruth
dc.date.accessioned2026-08-06T08:12:56Z
dc.date.available2026-08-06T08:12:56Z
dc.date.issued2026
dc.date.updated2026-08-06T08:12:56Z
dc.description.abstractRapid weight loss prior to official weigh-ins is a widespread practice in weight-class sports, but its application in tug of war (TOW) has received little attention. Given that team categories are determined by total Body mass (BM), athletes often resort to acute weight manipulation to gain a competitive advantage. The aim of this study was to examine day-to-day changes in body weight, body composition, and hydration status in elite TOW athletes before and after official weigh-ins, and to explore potential sex differences. Ninety-five elite TOW athletes (41 included in the analyses; 19 women, 22 men) were assessed during the 2019 European Outdoor and the 2020 World Indoor TOW Championships. Measurements were performed on the weigh-in day (Day 1) and on the two subsequent competition days (Days 2 and 3). BM, body composition, and hydration status were assessed using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Repeated-measures ANOVA and regression analyses were applied to evaluate changes across days and associations between variables. Athletes showed significant increases in BM (∼3.9 kg/5.6 %), total body water (TBW), extracellular (ECW) and intracellular water, fat-free mass (FFM), and BMI between the weigh-in and competition days (all p < 0.001).However, changes in FFM should be interpreted with caution, as they are likely driven by hydration-related fluctuations rather than true alterations in lean tissue mass. The observed pattern suggests that elite TOW athletes likely undergo rapid pre-weigh-in weight reduction followed by aggressive rehydration and recovery. These patterns were similar between men and women, with trivial to small effect sizes across all variables. Findings highlight the need for safe and evidence-based weight management strategies to protect athlete health while maintaining performance.en
dc.identifier.citationCastañeda Babarro, A., Martinez de Aguirre Betolaza, A., Agirre Elordui, S., Calleja González, J., & Cayero Alcorta, R. (2026). Patterns of rapid weight loss and recovery of hydration/body composition in elite tug of war athletes. Apunts: Medicina de l’esport, 61(231). https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APUNSM.2026.100518
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/J.APUNSM.2026.100518
dc.identifier.eissn1886-6581
dc.identifier.issn0213-3717
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14454/6476
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherGeneralidad de Cataluña = Generalitat de Catalunya, Consell Català de l'Esport
dc.publisherDoyma
dc.rights© 2026 Consell Català de l’Esport
dc.subject.otherRapid weight loss
dc.subject.otherRehydration strategies
dc.subject.otherAthletic impairment
dc.subject.otherBiomarkers of dehydration
dc.subject.otherBody composition
dc.titlePatterns of rapid weight loss and recovery of hydration/body composition in elite tug of war athletesen
dc.typejournal article
dcterms.accessRightsopen access
oaire.citation.issue231
oaire.citation.titleApunts: Medicina de l'esport
oaire.citation.volume61
oaire.licenseConditionhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
oaire.versionVoR
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