Nutritional Pattern–Based Variations in Body Composition Among Combat Sport Athletes

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. 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. 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. Well-planned vegetarian diets can support and potentially optimize body composition for combat sport performance, challenging conventional assumptions about animal protein necessity for muscle development. These findings suggest plant-based nutritional strategies merit consideration for athletes seeking favorable power-to-weight ratios, though regional and genetic confounding factors warrant further investigation through controlled trials.