Three studies now show that football players are not merely big but obese to the point their health is at risk. Some want a cap on football weight.

Lineman Problem

Two studies in 2007,

• The Journal of the American Medical Association
• The Journal of Pediatrics

found that high school football players were obese at a higher rate than the rest of the student population. Linemen were especially found to be "officially obese." Doctors are increasingly concerned about the push for high school students to "bulk up." Many of the products in the stores to aid in the bulking process are largely unregulated and future health risks are not known. College recruiters are looking for the "big boys" but doctors are concerned they won’t live as long as they could if they weighed less.

Iowa Study

3,600 high school linemen in Iowa were involved in a study (JAMA) that found that 45% were overweight and 9% were diagnosed with severe adult obesity. In the general population, 18% of the male children and adolescents are overweight. Football players in Iowa are significantly higher than the general population.

Michigan Study

A study of 650 football players in Michigan, ages 9-14, was published in October’s The Journal of Pediatrics. It found that 45% were overweight or obese. The problem was most prevalent with the linemen.

Professor Robert M. Malina

Malina is a professor emeritus of kinesiology at Texas and the lead author of the Michigan study. He finds this trend very disturbing. "Youngsters are already being rewarded for being big and overweight before playing big-time football. Our culture is putting too much emphasis on weight for football just like gymnastics is emphasizing small, underweight girls."

Goal: College Football

The goal is be noticed by the N.F.L. and play professional football. Many parents hope that their son will receive a scholarship to play football in college in exchange for expensive tuition. Weight-training programs run twelve months out of the year to build muscle. But, in reality, how many high school football players go on to play any football in college? 6%. What happens to the other 94% remaining? They are now obese or overweight adult men developing heart problems, high cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, and at higher risk for strokes or heart attacks.

University of North Carolina Study

A 2003 study by the U. of North Carolina said that 56% of N.F.L. players were considered obese. The linemen have

• 52% greater risk of dying from heart disease
• 3.7 times more likely to die of heart disease

than other players on the team.

Iowa State University

Kelly Laurson, a doctoral candidate in kinesiology at Iowa State and the lead author of the Iowa study says that he was shocked to learn that 1 in 10 high school linemen in Iowa were considered severely obese. These players were less than six feet tall and weighed over 300 pounds. Technically, they qualify for gastric bypass surgery. Laurson said, "There’s nothing wrong with gaining 30 pounds of muscle as long as it doesn’t come with 50 pounds of fat."

Weight Restrictions

Some think it is time to restrict the weight of high school students playing football. Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health, is calling for a weight cap beginning with the N.F.L. Alexander states, "When you look at the impact these players have on other players and kids, I think there is some contribution, unmeasurable, to the overall problem of obesity in the United States."

Bob Colgate, assistant director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, said the issue is being considered but no action is scheduled at this time. More information must be available.

Common Sense Factor

We know obesity is not healthy. We know it cuts years from life. We know it creates heart disease and more. Why not cap weight under the obesity levels for football players?

Source: Jere Longman, boston.com, November 30, 2007

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Copyright article 2008 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.