Strategies for loss of weight in the period pre-competition by judo athletes of a higher education institution of the municipality of Palhoça (SC)

Judo is a combat sport practiced as a martial art that is characterized by the confrontation between two opponents. Athletes of different fighting modalities adopt strategies for rapid weight loss before weighing pre-competition in order to gain advantage against their opponents. The study aims to identify the strategies adopted for weight loss in the pre-competition period by judo athletes from a higher education institution in the municipality of Palhoça (SC). The study was descriptive, cross - sectional and quantitative. The sample consisted of 21 judo athletes who answered a questionnaire prepared by the researchers. Descriptive statistics procedures were used and Student's t test and Fisher's exact test were used, with p <0.05 as significance. The results show that the majority (90.5%) of the athletes use methods to aid in weight loss. The most used methods are the increase in training intensity (89.5%), restriction of carbohydrates (84.2%), running with warm clothing (84.2%), caloric restriction (63.2%), water restriction 57.9%) and use of anti perspirant clothing (52.6%). It is concluded that most athletes use methods for weight loss, many of them inadequate. It is noted the lack of follow-up with a professional, being suggested the accompaniment of the nutritionist to avoid damages to the athletes performance and health.O judô é um esporte de combate praticado como arte marcial que tem como característica o confronto entre dois adversários. Atletas de diferentes modalidades de luta adotam estratégias para rápida perda de peso antes da pesagem pré-competição, a fim de obter vantagem contra seus adversários. O estudo tem como objetivo identificar as estratégias adotadas para a perda de peso no período pré-competição por atletas de judô de uma instituição de ensino superior do município de Palhoça (SC). O estudo foi do tipo descritivo, de corte transversal e com abordagem quantitativa. A amostra foi constituída por 21 atletas de judô que responderam um questionário elaborado pelas pesquisadoras. Foram empregados procedimentos de estatística descritiva e aplicados os testes t de Student e Exato de Fisher, adotando-se como significância o valor de p