Judo, as well as other types of sports involving weight categories, is a modality in which athletes have high risk of hypohydration due to involuntary /voluntary dehydration. Therefore, the aim of this study was evaluate the sweating rate (ml/min) of judokas in a training day and verify the impact of the dehydration degree upon subjective hunger and appetite rates. The sample was composed of 14 athletes (nine men and five women) with mean age of 19.6 ± 5.9 years. Body mass and subjective rates of hunger, appetite and effort were measured in a scale ranging from zero to 10, before and after training. Body mass was significantly lower after training (68.8 ± 18.1kg versus 66.9 ± 17.3kg; p < 0,01), with reduction of 2.6 ± 1.1%. Hunger and effort rates were significantly higher after exercise (2.1 ± 2.2 versus 4.8 ± 3.6, p = 0.02 and 0 versus 7.2 ± 1.3; p < 0,01), likewise craving for fruit rate (4.3 ± 3.8 versus 8.0 ± 2.8; p = 0.01). Positive correlations were obtained between: 1) effort scale and post-training craving for dairy products (r = 0.63; p < 0.05); 2) percentage of body mass reduction and hunger rate the in post-training period (r = 0.55, p < 0.05) and; 3) percentage of body mass reduction and craving for salty food in post-training period (r = 0.59; p < 0.05). It was concluded that the sweating rate mean represented moderate dehydration during a judo training session and that changes in hydration status may be associated with modifications in subjective perception of hunger and craving for certain food.
judo; dehydration; exertion; thirst; hunger; appetite
