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Volume 17
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10.3390/ijerph17238727
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Article

Factors Influencing Weight Loss Practices in Italian Boxers: A Cluster Analysis

by
Stefano Amatori
1,
Oliver R. Barley
2,
Erica Gobbi
1,*,
Diego Vergoni
1,
Attilio Carraro
3,
Carlo Baldari
4,
Laura Guidetti
5,
Marco B. L. Rocchi
1,
Fabrizio Perroni
1 and
Davide Sisti
1
1
Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61027 Urbino, Italy
2
Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 6027 Joondalup, Australia
3
Faculty of Education, Free University of Bozen, 39100 Bozen, Italy
4
Faculty of Psychology, Uni E-Campus, 00182 Rome, Italy
5
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 8727; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238727
Submission received: 1 October 2020 / Revised: 11 November 2020 / Accepted: 22 November 2020 / Published: 24 November 2020
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Rehabilitation and Performance of Athletes)
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Abstract

It is common practice in combat sports that athletes rapidly lose body weight before a match, by applying different practices—some safer and others possibly dangerous. The factors behind the choice of practices utilised have not been fully studied. This study aimed to investigate the weight loss strategies used by Italian boxers and to look at the difference between higher and lower risk practice adaptors. A modified version of a validated questionnaire has been sent to 164 amateur (88%) and professional (12%) boxers by email. A heatmap with hierarchical clustering was used to explore the presence of subgroups. Weight loss strategies were used by 88% of the athletes. Two clusters were found, defined by the severity of weight loss behaviours. Professional fighters, high-level athletes and females were more represented in Cluster 2, the one with more severe weight-loss practices. These athletes were characterised by a higher weight loss magnitude and frequency throughout the season and reported being more influenced by physicians and nutritionists, compared with the boxers in Cluster 1. Not all the weight loss practices are used with the same frequency by all boxers. The level of the athlete and the boxing style have an influence on the weight-cutting practices.
Keywords: boxing; cluster analysis; combat sports; professional athletes; weight cutting boxing; cluster analysis; combat sports; professional athletes; weight cutting

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Amatori, S.; Barley, O.R.; Gobbi, E.; Vergoni, D.; Carraro, A.; Baldari, C.; Guidetti, L.; Rocchi, M.B.L.; Perroni, F.; Sisti, D. Factors Influencing Weight Loss Practices in Italian Boxers: A Cluster Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8727. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238727

AMA Style

Amatori S, Barley OR, Gobbi E, Vergoni D, Carraro A, Baldari C, Guidetti L, Rocchi MBL, Perroni F, Sisti D. Factors Influencing Weight Loss Practices in Italian Boxers: A Cluster Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(23):8727. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238727

Chicago/Turabian Style

Amatori, Stefano, Oliver R. Barley, Erica Gobbi, Diego Vergoni, Attilio Carraro, Carlo Baldari, Laura Guidetti, Marco B. L. Rocchi, Fabrizio Perroni, and Davide Sisti. 2020. "Factors Influencing Weight Loss Practices in Italian Boxers: A Cluster Analysis" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 23: 8727. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238727

APA Style

Amatori, S., Barley, O. R., Gobbi, E., Vergoni, D., Carraro, A., Baldari, C., Guidetti, L., Rocchi, M. B. L., Perroni, F., & Sisti, D. (2020). Factors Influencing Weight Loss Practices in Italian Boxers: A Cluster Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(23), 8727. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17238727

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