Do coaches and athletes share the same weight-loss practices and perceptions? Insights from 23 combat sport teams

Background The present study aimed to examine whether coaches’ weight loss (WL) guidance practices and perceptions are consistent with those of the combat sport (CS) athletes they coach. Methods This study employed an observational cross-sectional approach using a survey to ascertain the WL guidance practices and perceptions of CS coaches and WL practices and perceptions of CS athletes and adopted purposeful sampling. In total, 23 coaches and 396 athletes from 23 CS teams who met the inclusion criteria completed the questionnaire. Linear mixed models and generalized estimating equations were used to account for the nested coach–athlete structure. Results Significant role differences were observed for habitual WL% and highest WL%, with athletes reporting greater WL magnitudes than coaches recommended. Athletes also reported shorter WL durations than those indicated by coaches. However, after accounting for sex and sport discipline, these role differences were attenuated, indicating that discrepancies were context-dependent rather than uniform across groups. No significant role differences were found for age began WL, perceived coach influence, or perceptions of WL effects on health, performance, and fairness, suggesting substantial perceptual alignment between coaches and athletes. Among 16 WL methods, a significant role difference was identified only for sauna use; this difference was conditioned by sex. Conclusion Coaches and athletes demonstrated strong alignment in their perceptions of WL and coach influence. While discrepancies in reported WL practices were observed, these differences appeared to be contextually shaped by sex and sport discipline rather than reflecting a universal athlete–coach divide.