Are American Football Players Fit or Fat?

Grand Valley State University's Jeffrey Potteiger and Maggie McGowan-Stinski set out to determine how body size has changed in football players over the years.

A new research has suggested that being bigger doesn't mean being better or healthier, debunking the stigma that exists in American football that players need to increase their overall body size to make an impact on the field.

Grand Valley State University's Jeffrey Potteiger and Maggie McGowan-Stinski set out to determine how body size has changed in college and professional football players over the past 70 years. Potteiger said that in football, the most at-risk athletes are the offensive and defensive linemen. The research duo determined that players have gained an average of between a quarter of a pound to one-and-a-quarter pound per year since 1942.

Helmetless-Tackling Drills Reduce Head Impact by 28% in One Football Season
Preventing head impacts, which can contribute to spine and head injuries like concussions, may be found in behavior modification like helmetless-tackling drills.

‘The use of anabolic steroids, growth hormones and insulin carry side effects that range from mild to severe.’

This equates to an average 60-pound increase in body mass for offensive and defensive linemen. Potteiger stated that the most common diseases resulting from excess body mass and body fat, especially around the abdominal area, include high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. He noted that the use of growth promoting agents, such as anabolic steroids, growth hormones and insulin carry side effects that range from mild to severe.

To help athletes increase their body size in a healthier manner, he recommends the following:

-Strive for lean body mass increases of less than one pound per week;

NFL Pulls Money for American Football and Brain Disease Study
The NFL's decision not to fund the project delayed its announcement for months and forced the matter to top NIH officials before the decision was made.

-Maintain good nutritional intake by eating one to one-and-a-half grams of protein for every two pounds of body mass;

-Eat adequate carbohydrates while avoiding excessive calories;

British Footballers Struggle With Severe Dental Problems
A new study assessed just how widespread dental problems are among pro footballers in England. They may make huge amounts of money, but little of it seems to go to dental care.

-Perform a resistance training program three-to-five days per week; and

-Leave plenty of room for rest and recovery.

Depression, Anxiety Issues Affect Over a Third of Current Professional Footballers
23% of current players and 28% of former players reported sleep disturbances. Alcohol abuse spiked from 9% among current players to 25% among retired players.

The study appears in Strength and Conditioning Journal.

Source-ANI