For NFL players, there's an growing understanding that they are making a set of tradeoffs.If they are good enough to stick around in the league for a while, they will get a massive amount of money -- like take-care-of-your-great-grandkids rich. But in return, they will have the life expectancy of an Alaskan crab fisherman.
One of the main explanations for that is that many players simply carry too much weight. It's hard to take a look at a Pat Williams or a Shaun Rogers and not think that they are simply bigger and bulkier than what a human heart can handle.
But a new study commissioned by the NFL seems to indicate that the average NFL 300-pounder is healthier than you might think. The study found that NFL players show no higher risk for heart disease while they are playing than any other healthy male their age. It seems that all the physical activity that comes with being an NFL player cancels out the extra weight/bulk that players carry.
Of course, it's worth noting that the NFL has a compelling reason to try to prove that players are not putting their lives in their own hands by playing. And the study doesn't follow players after they retire -- when they may find that it's hard to get rid of that extra weight. That's something that may be worth the NFL Players Association's time to research.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-27-2009 @ 11:36PM
ettev6791 said...
Did we really need this article to figure this out. People who weigh over 300 pounds who dont play pro sports or any sport for that matter are obviously not healthy. These NFL players go through months of physical training leading up to the season and then the grind within the season. How did it take so long to figure this little fact out?
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5-27-2009 @ 11:44PM
joeinbost said...
Intense training ever see a guy after running 20 Yards on the Side line sucking down the Oxygen. Healthy people can survive on the 20% in the Atmosphere not 100% pure O2 Only place you need that is in Denver. I go to Austria every other yr and after a day I can run a mile in 8 Mins at 1700Meters about a Mile high. Love to challenge a 300 pounder to do that BTW 6 220
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5-28-2009 @ 12:04AM
mewdede said...
i agree, but as soon as most stop playing sports they get a pop belly, look at barkley, johnson and the list goes on for the super stars of the past. i use too play sports but that was 10 years ago, i was at a peak of 260-270 pounds, less than a year later im at 220 - 230, and i run 1 mile in less than 7 mins, run 12 miles in 1.45 hours, but studies dont lie, look around use, here in the us we have some heavy people, most wait around until the summer time to start working out and have more trouble, the heat will discourage any one just starting to work out. so for all the heavy people out there dont discourage, just began by eating right and the wt will come off, and for those of us that trail hike, run, climb; lets go trailing for the next big hike........happy trails
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5-28-2009 @ 1:38AM
Wade said...
Seriously?
You have to be kidding me. Giving any credit to a study that says fatass men won't die until they are 40 is awfully shady. Come on JJ, you know this is BS, why are sharing it?
Absolute BULL .... story, why?
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5-28-2009 @ 9:46AM
kevinkatz said...
i dont believe it for a second. compare these guys to rugby or soccer players who play all game and not in 10 second bursts. i think that they are unfit and teams would do much better if they got their players in shape.
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