A study has found that the linemen on a Division I college football team were the only ones who were obese, and they were more likely than the other players to have high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and other weight-related health problems. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Researchers at Ohio State University examined body fat and other health measures of 90 football players at the university. Their average age was 20; average weight, 232 pounds. Players were categorized as obese if they had a body fat of 25 percent or greater. Typically, obesity is determined by a measure called body mass index, which takes into consideration height and weight, but it does not consider muscle vs. fat. That's why researchers used the percentage of body fat.
The players were divided into three groups: offensive and defensive linemen; receivers and defensive backs; and linebackers, quarterbacks, punters and kickers.
The only players who were obese were linemen; 19 of the 29 linemen were obese. Thirteen of the 19 had insulin resistance, meaning their bodies didn't regulate blood sugar properly, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Eight of the obese linemen had metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that harm the heart. They had unhealthy readings in at least three of these five measurements: blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL or good cholesterol, abdominal fat and blood sugars.
The findings should raise awareness about how health risks can go hand-in-hand with an emphasis on size for all football players and especially linemen, researchers say.
Researchers at Ohio State University examined body fat and other health measures of 90 football players at the university. Their average age was 20; average weight, 232 pounds. Players were categorized as obese if they had a body fat of 25 percent or greater. Typically, obesity is determined by a measure called body mass index, which takes into consideration height and weight, but it does not consider muscle vs. fat. That's why researchers used the percentage of body fat.
The players were divided into three groups: offensive and defensive linemen; receivers and defensive backs; and linebackers, quarterbacks, punters and kickers.
The only players who were obese were linemen; 19 of the 29 linemen were obese. Thirteen of the 19 had insulin resistance, meaning their bodies didn't regulate blood sugar properly, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Eight of the obese linemen had metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that harm the heart. They had unhealthy readings in at least three of these five measurements: blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL or good cholesterol, abdominal fat and blood sugars.
The findings should raise awareness about how health risks can go hand-in-hand with an emphasis on size for all football players and especially linemen, researchers say.