The Physician and sportsmedicineOct 21, 2010

Heart and metabolism health risks in current professional football and baseball players

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

Former professional football linemen may have increased cardiovascular disease risk, particularly due to factors like obesity and enlarged heart structures.

Higher prevalence of obesity is noted in former professional football linemen compared to nonlinemen.
Lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are observed in these football linemen.
Increased sizes of the left ventricle and left atrium are recorded in former professional football linemen.
Higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome is associated with former professional football linemen.
Preliminary findings suggest that baseball players do not exhibit the same increased cardiovascular disease risk as football players.

Simplified

Data on the development of cardiovascular disease in professional football players are conflicting. Studies have documented a higher prevalence of obesity, lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, increased left ventricular and left atrial size, and higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in former professional football linemen compared with nonlinemen. It has been suggested that former National Football League players are at risk for early cardiovascular disease and premature death. A print media report in 2006 indicated an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and early mortality in professional football players compared with professional baseball players. However, there has been little scientific evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors in professional baseball players. Our data suggest that there is increased cardiovascular disease risk in football players, but this is limited to heavier linemen. In preliminary studies, baseball players do not appear to demonstrate the same increased risk. However, caution should be used in the interpretation of increased cardiovascular disease risk, as it does not necessarily translate into early increased mortality.

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Heart and metabolism health risks in current professional football and baseball players

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