Research
Energy balance
Body fat was reduced to very low levels (∼5%) immediately before competition, but this corresponded with a loss of lean mass.
Practitioners should be aware that extreme fat loss can lead to loss of lean mass.
StrongSupportsmedium confidence
Body fat was reduced to very low levels (∼5%) immediately before competition, but this corresponded with a loss of lean mass.
Why this rating
Based on the prospective case study design.
Source
Alterations in Body Composition, Resting Metabolic Rate, Muscular Strength, and Eating Behavior in Response to Natural Bodybuilding Competition Preparation: A Case Study
Brad J. Schöenfeld et al. · The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research · 2020
DOI 10.1519/jsc.0000000000003816
case_studyCited 57×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Alterations in metabolism, hormonal status, explosive strength, and psychological aspects of eating were observed during precontest preparation; however, all of these variables recovered quickly postcompetition.Strong
- The implementation of a carb deplete and carb load peaking strategy acutely increased muscle thickness and may be a viable precontest approach to maximize muscular aesthetics.Strong
Related findings · Energy balance
- Achieving a total body weight loss of 10-15% (or >10-15 kg) through Total Diet Replacement (TDR) induces remission of Type 2 Diabetes in individuals with short-duration disease.Strong
- Bariatric surgery is superior to medical management alone for inducing significant long-term weight loss, remission of type 2 diabetes, and reduction in mortality for patients with BMI ≥ 40 or ≥ 35 with comorbidities.Strong
- Achieving type 2 diabetes remission requires significant weight loss (≥15 kg) via major caloric restriction, independent of macronutrient composition.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →