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.

"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.