The Bottom Line(men)? Obesity Levels for Football Players Growing

No matter the state of your own weight, you probably look at football players as the pinnacle of good health. After all, these gridiron heroes ARE athletes, so they must be in excellent shape, right? Well, new research suggests that a growing number of college and professional players are actually obese, and may be at risk for life-threatening health conditions!

Specifically, Ohio State University researchers discovered that only one type of player — Division I college football linemen – were found to be obese. Their findings were published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. These players were also found to be at greater risk for obesity-related conditions, including: pre-diabetes and diabetes, and various cardiovascular threats, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

College & Pro Players Coping With Weight Issues

In addition, other studies show that retired National Football League (NFL) linemen are more at risk for metabolic syndrome. This is a group of medical disorders related to obesity that may increase risks for diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. These retired NFL linemen were found to be more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than other retired NFL players.

Over the course of the study, the researchers focused on 90 Ohio State University players, encompassing all positions. The researchers examined the body fat levels and other health measures of the players, who had an average age of 20 and weight of 232 pounds. Those players with body fat levels of 25% or more were considered “obese.”

Body Mass Index Not the Best Indicator

Normally, obesity is measured with the body mass index (BMI), which measures obesity in terms of height and weight. But as the BMI doesn’t take into account muscle vs. fat, a big factor in the size and weight of football players, the researchers used the percentage of body fat as a measurement tool. The Ohio State University researchers split the subjects into three groups: offensive and defensive linemen; receivers and defensive backs; and linebackers, quarterbacks, punters and kickers. The findings showed:

Cutting Down on “Bulking Up”

It’s been observed that football players, and especially linemen, whether they’re playing in high school, college or professionally, are getting bigger all the time. Unfortunately, this bulking up may lead to serious health threats later on. As such, health care representatives and nutritional experts are getting involved. These players “have to be big, but they don’t have to be over-fat. The goal is to put on lean mass. … A bigger, leaner athlete also moves more quickly than an athlete whose bulk is mostly fat,” states Leslie Bonci, a registered dietitian who works with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bonci adds: “Many would benefit from a ‘calorie cap.’”  By this, she means that these players must learn what, when and how much to eat. “Gone are the days of heavily marbled meats, fried chicken. … Now there’s a lot more grilled chicken, fish, ground turkey, flank steak and oven-fried instead of deep-frying. So players can keep their mass but have less jiggle.”

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-12-02-fatfootballplayers02_ST_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip