Football: When Bigger Isn't Better

Today there is a huge emphasis in football on the size of athletes - especially for football linemen. This attitude of "the bigger, the better" has migrated down from the professional level through college and into high school. However this increase in size carries increased health risks. A new study by the American College of Sports Medicine on Division I collegiate football players showed that linemen were the only players that were obese and were more likely to have weight-related health problems such as pre-diabetes and high blood pressure. This is especially concerning since according to the study the prevalence of obesity among high school linemen is now estimated at 45%.

The study looked at 90 Division I football players at Ohio State University. Players were categorized into 3 groups according to their size and similarity of positions played: offensive and defensive linemen; wide receivers and defensive backs; and tight ends, linebackers, quarterbacks, punters, and kickers.

Players having a body fat reading (a measure of fat versus muscle) of 25% or higher were classified as obese. 21% of the participants (a total of 19 players) were obese, and all of the obese participants were linemen. Thirteen of the 19 had insulin resistance - a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Insulin resistance can lead to heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Eight of the obese linemen had metabolic syndrome, a group of metabolic risk factors with unhealthy readings in at least 3 of the following 5 areas:

• Elevated waist circumference (Greater than 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women)


• Elevated triglycerides: Equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL


• Reduced HDL (“good”) cholesterol: Men — Less than 40 mg/dLWomen — Less than 50 mg/dL


• Elevated blood pressure: Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg


• Elevated fasting glucose: Equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL

Therefore it's important to remember that when aiming to put on size, the goal is to put on lean mass rather than just excess body fat. You want to increase your calorie intake by focusing on nutritionally dense sources of food such as lean meats, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, olive oil, and avocados. A bigger, leaner athlete is going to be quicker, more powerful, and healthier than an athlete of the same weight who has more body fat. While size does matter in football, just make sure you're making quality gains versus quantity.