Body Composition, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, and Dietary Practices in Elite Albanian Boxers: A Comprehensive Analysis for Performance Optimization
Authors
Marsida Bushati, Sead Bushati
Share
Annotation
This study, led by Marsida Bushati with contributions from Sead Bushati, investigated body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and dietary habits in 24 elite male Albanian boxers across various weight classes. Using air displacement plethysmography (BOD POD GS-X), cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and a validated 15-item dietary questionnaire, the study found a mean body fat percentage of 16.2 ± 5.1%, a VO₂max of 4232 ± 355 mL/min, and a relative VO₂/kg of 56.2 ± 5.4 mL/min/kg. Significant inverse correlations were observed between VO₂/kg and body fat percentage (r = -0.62, p = 0.012) and BMI (r = -0.58, p = 0.021). Heavyweight boxers (>81 kg) exhibited higher body fat (19.8 ± 3.7%) and lower VO₂/kg (51.3 ± 3.2 mL/min/kg) compared to non-heavyweights (p < 0.05). Dietary analysis revealed that 83% practiced caloric restriction, 58% used dehydration methods, and 71% lacked professional nutritional guidance. These findings targeted interventions to optimize performance and mitigate health risks associated with rapid weight loss in combat sports.
Keywords
Authors
Marsida Bushati, Sead Bushati
Share
References:
1. Durnin JVGA, Womersley J. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16 to 72 Years. British Journal of Nutrition. 1974;32(01):77-97. doi:10.1079/bjn19740060
2. Norton, K., & Olds, T. (1996). Anthropometrica. UNSW Press.
3. Styne DM, Arslanian SA, Connor EL, et al. Pediatric Obesity—Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2017;102(3):709-757. doi:10.1210/jc.2016-2573
4. Reale, R., et al. (2017). Acute weight loss strategies. Sports Medicine, 47(9), 1809–1820.
5. Slimani, M., et al. (2017). Anthropometric and physiological profiles of boxers. Sports Medicine, 47(8), 1665–1686.
6. Chaabène, H., et al. (2015). Physiological characteristics of judo athletes. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 10(2), 145–151.
7. Artioli, G.G., et al. (2010). Rapid weight loss in judo. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 42(3), 436–442.
8. Garthe, I., & Sundgot-Borgen, J. (2013). Weight management in athletes. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 23(5), 626–634.
9. Artioli, G.G., et al. (2016). Rapid weight loss in combat sports. Sports Medicine, 46(6), 791–801.
10. Brito, C.J., et al. (2012). Weight loss practices in combat sports. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 22(2), 89–97.
11. Sawka, M.N., et al. (2015). Exercise and fluid replacement. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 47(2), 259–270.
12. Lohman, T.G., et al. (2000). Body composition measurement. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 28(2), 80–85.
13. Sundgot-Borgen, J., & Garthe, I. (2011). Weight control in athletes. Sports Medicine, 41(12), 1019–1036.
14. Langan-Evans, C., et al. (2011). Rapid weight loss review. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(13), 1421–1430.
15. Cheuvront, S.N., et al. (2010). Hydration assessment techniques. Nutrition Reviews, 68(Suppl 2), S40–S46.
16. Casa, D.J., et al. (2010). Fluid replacement for athletes. Journal of Athletic Training, 45(5), 509–522.
17. Cochran, W.G. (1977). Sampling Techniques (3rd ed.). Wiley.
18. Faul, F., et al. (2007). G*Power 3: Statistical power analysis. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175–191.
19. World Medical Association. (2013). Declaration of Helsinki. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194.
20. McCrory, M.A., et al. (1995). Air displacement plethysmography. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 27(12), 1686–1691.
21. Fields, D.A., et al. (2002). Body-composition via ADP. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 75(3), 453–467.
22. American College of Sports Medicine. (2018). ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing (10th ed.). Lippincott.
23. Midgley, A.W., et al. (2007). Maximal oxygen uptake criteria. Sports Medicine, 37(12), 1019–1028.
24. Burke, L.M., et al. (2011). Nutrition for power sports. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(Suppl 1), S79–S89.
25. Ackland, T.R., et al. (2012). Body composition assessment in sport. Sports Medicine, 42(3), 227–249.
26. Bruzas, V., et al. (2014). Aerobic capacity in boxers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(3), 674–680.
27. Davis, P., et al. (2014). Body composition in combat athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(5), 1229–1235.
28. Franchini, E., et al. (2019). Physiological profiles of combat athletes. Frontiers in Physiology, 10, 1523.
29. Tipton, C.M. (2006). ACSM’s Advanced Exercise Physiology. Lippincott.
30. Prentice, A.M., & Jebb, S.A. (2001). Beyond BMI. Obesity Reviews, 2(3), 141–147.
31. Wagner, D.R., & Heyward, V.H. (2000). Body composition assessment techniques. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 71(2), 135–149.
32. Reljic, D., et al. (2013). Adaptations in heavyweight boxers. Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(12), 1373–1380.
33. Morton, J.P., et al. (2010). Weight-making in boxing. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 20(1), 80–85.
34. Reljic, D., et al. (2016). Rapid weight loss effects. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 56(7–8), 837–843.
35. Crighton, B., et al. (2016). Weight-making in jockeys. Sports Medicine, 46(4), 553–560.
36. Burke, L.M., & Hawley, J.A. (2018). Nutrition for combat sports. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(15), 1693–1700.
37. Barley, O.R., et al. (2019). Weight loss in combat sports. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 33(5), 1379–1389.
38. Matthews, J.J., et al. (2019). Effects of rapid weight loss. Sports Medicine, 49(7), 995–1014.
39. Sawka, M.N., et al. (2007). Fluid replacement guidelines. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(2), 377–390.
Other articles of the issue
