Obesity in Sports

#1

I was watching Around the Horn today and they had something on this. Is obesity getting out of hand in football? Is there anything that can be done about it? There are over 300 players in the NFL that weigh over 300 pounds. 10 years ago there were 1 dozen....

Lost Ghost · #2

10 years ago look at the average weight of the d and o-line.

It's no wonder people are getting bigger....so is their competition.

America is getting bigger...and I see nothing wrong with it.

Oh...and no professional football player is obese. Period.

#3

QUOTEOh...and no professional football player is obese. Period.

Um, what do you base that on LG? Because they are "professionals"?

Clinically speaking there are probably more than 100 players in the pros that are obese and scores more in the College ranks. The problem is there is no room for a 235 pound lineman at either level of football......the owners, coaches, trainers, etc. want the 350 and sometimes 400 pounders anchoring their offensive line in order to protect the major investments teams put on QB's and RB's.

#4

i think it started before the fridge being the key to chicago's super-bowl run, and the HUGE media campaign. but, that seems to be the formal kickoff that you can identify.

Lost Ghost · #5

Obese....to me, means you're very big, but in an unhealthy manner.

Professional Football players...are all healthy, and in great shape for the most part.

You'll find more obese people walking the streets around the local ice cream shop or McDonalds than you will in the pros.

#6

So do think obese has to do with body fat percentage then? A lot of the lineman are huge but they are in shape. But being over 300 pounds can't be healthy for you

Lost Ghost · #7

It's not healthy for you...but in today's day and age with the way people lift weights to put on pounds...a 300 pound linemen...is like 85% muscle..

That's not obese....thats beasting

#8

LG.....you're right, today's lineman are HUGE and build a lot of muscle and are a completely different animal than those of the 60's, 70's and 80's, BUT their heart (the physical size that is) and the frame of their bodies are not much different. Don't be fooled that because they play "pro" football they must be healthy, because it's simply not true. The average life expectancy of an NFL lineman is 56 years old! You don't believe that it's normal for a "healthy" person to die at 56, do you?

I understand what you're saying, and yes they are incredible athletes BUT they are only a product of what the NFL in requiring of them. They are nothing more than a slab of meat to their bosses and unfortunately it's going to take one of them flatlining on national TV before anything is actually done.

#9

... and maybe not even then.

#10

So do you think the NFL should set a limit saying no player can be above a certain weight? Would that work?