INDIANAPOLIS, Dec 2, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Two-thirds of the linemen on a
Division I college football team are obese and more likely than other players to
have health problems, a study reveals.
In the study, researchers at Ohio State University looked at body fat and health
indicators for 90 players at the university and found only linemen were obese,
defined as having at least 25 percent body fat.
The study, reported in the December issue of the American College of Sports
Medicine's journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, found obesity
only among linemen. Nineteen of the 29 linemen who took part in the study were
obese, USA Today reported.
Of those 19, 13 had insulin resistance, which means their bodies don't regulate
sugar properly, and that could lead to type 2 diabetes.
Eight of the obese players had metabolic syndrome -- a tag for risk factors that
can damage the heart -- and had unhealthy readings in at least three of these
five categories: blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL or good cholesterol,
abdominal fat and blood sugars.
"These findings are consistent with a recent study showing retired NFL linemen
were twice as likely to develop metabolic syndrome as players of other
positions," said Dr. James R. Borchers, the study's lead researcher.
"Given the serious health consequences of these conditions, we need to study
college football players over time -- and we need to counsel them about managing
their health risks."
Of the 90 players in the study, 72 were overweight, the researchers said.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International