Researchers studied football players, linemen in particular, to determine whether they have greater high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high fasting blood-glucose levels — risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. The study was presented recently at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in San Diego
The study included 69 pro football players and 155 pro baseball players, all currently playing. They were tested for fasting glucose levels, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, cholesterol, waist circumference, insulin resistance and waist-to-height ratio (an assessment often given to athletes who typically have more muscle and less body fat).
Overall, the football players had higher fasting glucose levels, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratios and BMI compared with baseball players, although blood-pressure numbers were lower among football players. Among the 19 linemen in the study, the numbers were even higher for fasting glucose levels, BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio.
"We expect professional athletes to be in peak physical condition given the demands of their jobs and the amount of time they spend exercising heavily," study co-author Dr. Michael Selden said. "However, there does not seem to be a complete protective effect of exercise, particularly among the larger athletes, like football linemen. Instead, the impact of their sheer size may outweigh the positive benefits of exercise to mitigate their risk for cardiometabolic syndrome, fatty liver disease and insulin resistance."
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