Study says most college linemen are obese

[The Straight Story]

Study says most college linemen are obese

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- 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.

http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2009/12/02/Study-says-most-college-linemen-are-obese/UPI-65111259799038/

[sasquatch]

1. Yeah, but they sure can move a pile

[The Straight Story]

3. As long as they are winning and bringing in the $$

We don't care about their health later...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. Unlike the pros, a lot of players have to just eat their way up to lineman weights

Most NFL-quality linemen are just huge people naturally. They bulk up some with fat, yes, but they are rare folks who are enormous and somewhat athletic.

But there's not an endless supply of somewhat fit 350 pound men. Every college team needs a line of huge kids and some do mass-eat their way onto the line.

[sasquatch]

6. Did you ever see Nate Newton, Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa?

You can't tell those boys didn't pack on the lard.

[AngryAmish]

4. Mass is important.

[aikoaiko]

5. Damn right. You want to fastest moving Sumu wrestlers on the line.

Most serious competitive sports are unhealthy for the athletes. The wear and tear to be exceptional is just too much for human body.