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Purpose <p>Combat sports require optimal body composition for competitive success; however, the relationship between dietary patterns and body composition parameters in young athletes remains understudied. This cross-sectional study compared body composition between vegetarian and omnivorous combat sport athletes aged 18–22&#xa0;years to evaluate nutritional strategies for performance optimization.</p> Methods <p>Fifty-two combat sport athletes (26 vegetarian, 26 omnivorous) from the Sports Authority of India training centers were assessed using the Tanita DC-360S body composition analyzer. Participants maintained their dietary patterns for at least 12&#xa0;months and trained regularly in karate, judo, wushu, or boxing. Thirteen body composition parameters were measured using standardized protocols, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to determine inter-group differences.</p> Results <p>Despite comparable body weights, vegetarian athletes demonstrated significantly superior body composition profiles: 41.6% lower body fat percentage (15.16% vs. 25.94%, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), 17.0% greater muscle mass (43.90&#xa0;kg vs. 37.51&#xa0;kg, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), 36.8% lower visceral fat rating, 10.1% higher bone mass, and 9.8% elevated basal metabolic rate. Skeletal muscle percentage and body water content were also significantly higher in vegetarians.</p> Conclusion <p>These preliminary findings suggest that well-planned vegetarian athletes demonstrated significantly more favorable body composition profiles; however, given the cross-sectional design, absence of dietary intake data, and regional confounding, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. Longitudinal controlled trials are needed to determine whether dietary pattern per se drives these differences, and plant-based strategies merit further investigation as part of evidence-based nutrition approaches for combat athletes.</p>

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Nutritional pattern-based variations in body composition among combat sport athletes

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月14日

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  • Anil Chahar,
  • Alok Dhaka,
  • Kana Ram Kumawat,
  • Sunil G. Purohit,
  • Arvind Pareek,
  • Neha Singh

摘要

Purpose

Combat sports require optimal body composition for competitive success; however, the relationship between dietary patterns and body composition parameters in young athletes remains understudied. This cross-sectional study compared body composition between vegetarian and omnivorous combat sport athletes aged 18–22 years to evaluate nutritional strategies for performance optimization.

Methods

Fifty-two combat sport athletes (26 vegetarian, 26 omnivorous) from the Sports Authority of India training centers were assessed using the Tanita DC-360S body composition analyzer. Participants maintained their dietary patterns for at least 12 months and trained regularly in karate, judo, wushu, or boxing. Thirteen body composition parameters were measured using standardized protocols, and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to determine inter-group differences.

Results

Despite comparable body weights, vegetarian athletes demonstrated significantly superior body composition profiles: 41.6% lower body fat percentage (15.16% vs. 25.94%, p < 0.05), 17.0% greater muscle mass (43.90 kg vs. 37.51 kg, p < 0.05), 36.8% lower visceral fat rating, 10.1% higher bone mass, and 9.8% elevated basal metabolic rate. Skeletal muscle percentage and body water content were also significantly higher in vegetarians.

Conclusion

These preliminary findings suggest that well-planned vegetarian athletes demonstrated significantly more favorable body composition profiles; however, given the cross-sectional design, absence of dietary intake data, and regional confounding, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. Longitudinal controlled trials are needed to determine whether dietary pattern per se drives these differences, and plant-based strategies merit further investigation as part of evidence-based nutrition approaches for combat athletes.