Self-confidence and Disordered Eating amongst Martial Artists: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Extreme dieting is a wellknown phenomenon in combat sports, and still, little research has explored the link between extreme dieting and confidence levels among martial artists.Methods: In this crosssectional study, extreme dieting and sportspecific selfconfidence among 111 Swedish athletes practicing mixed martial arts (MMA) or Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ) were examined. Athletes completed an online survey containing the Eating Disorder Examination questionnaire (EDEQ) and the Trait SportConfidence inventory (TSCI).Results: The results showed that MMA athletes dieted in more extreme ways than BJJ athletes, primarily via restricted eating. They also had higher sportspecific selfconfidence, which was positively correlated with weight loss. BJJ athletes used less restrictive eating than MMA athletes, but those who did diet in extreme ways experienced lower selfconfidence compared to MMA athletes.Conclusions: The results are consistent with previous studies showing rapid weight loss in MMA athletes and suggest that some martial artists are at a particular risk of extreme dieting and possible sequelae. There is a link between selfconfidence and weight loss, but it seems to allude to a comprehensive explanation and is in need of further research.