Tackling a weight problem

A study has found that the linemen on a Division I college football teamwere the only ones who were obese, and they were more likely than the other players to have high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and other weight-related health problems.
Another recent study showed that retired NFL linemen have a greater risk of metabolic syndrome and are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than other retired players.


There is a trend in all levels of football, from high school to college to the NFL, for linemen to be bigger, but that may have an influence on their future health, says James Borchers of the division of sports medicine at Ohio State University. (File/AP)
"We need to counsel these players in weight management during their playing career and afterward to reduce their health risks," Borchers said.
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