Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance in Division 1 Collegiate Football Players

Overview

Journal Med Sci Sports Exerc

Specialty Orthopedics

Date 2009 Nov 17

PMID 19915510

Citations 21

Authors

James R Borchers

Kelley L Clem

Diane L Habash

Haikady N Nagaraja

Lisa M Stokley

Thomas M Best

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in a cohort of Division 1 collegiate football players.

Methods: Ninety football players were evaluated in a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and associated risk factors. Obesity was defined as a body fat >or=25% determined by BOD POD measurements. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to estimate prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index calculations were performed to estimate prevalence of insulin resistance. Linear regression techniques were used to determine association between body fat percentage and other measured continuous parameters. Fisher exact test was used to determine association between nominal variables, and one-way ANOVA compared the three groups defined by position.

Results: Summary measures showed a small prevalence of abnormal individual measurements. There was an association between body fat percentage and most evaluated parameters (P < 0.05). The prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome was 21%, 21%, and 9%, respectively. Obesity is closely associated with metabolic syndrome (P < 0.0001) and insulin resistance (P < 0.0001) in this population. All subjects with metabolic syndrome were obese, and the odds for insulin resistance in the obese group are 10.6 times the odds for the nonobese group. Linemen (n = 29) had 19 of the 19 obese subjects, 13 of the 19 subjects with insulin resistance, and all subjects with metabolic syndrome.

Conclusions: There is a strong association between obesity and both metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in Division 1 collegiate football players. Linemen are at significant risk for metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance compared with other positions. This may be predictive of future health problems in Division 1 collegiate football players, especially linemen.

Citing Articles

Metabolic Surgery and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Perceptions of Former NFL Players.

McGlennon T, Roberts A, Buchwald J, Pories W, Ahnfeldt E, Perryman S Obes Surg. 2024; 34(10):3703-3716.

PMID: 39292334 DOI: 10.1007/s11695-024-07475-z.

Concussion burden and later-life cardiovascular risk factors in former professional American-style football players.

Tan C, Grashow R, Thorpe Jr R, Miller K, Nathan D, Izzy S Ann Clin Transl Neurol. 2024; 11(6):1604-1614.

PMID: 38808967 PMC: 11187967. DOI: 10.1002/acn3.52045.

The association between playing professional American football and longevity.

Warren J, Rumore G Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023; 120(45):e2308867120.

PMID: 37903248 PMC: 10636321. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2308867120.

Healthspan and chronic disease burden among young adult and middle-aged male former American-style professional football players.

Grashow R, Shaffer-Pancyzk T, Dairi I, Lee H, Marengi Jr D, Baker J Br J Sports Med. 2023; .

PMID: 36588423 PMC: 9887383. DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2022-106021.

Determinants of LV mass in athletes: the impact of sport, constitutional traits and cardiovascular risk factors.

Pelliccia A, Borrazzo C, Maestrini V, DAscenzi F, Caselli S, Lemme E Eur J Appl Physiol. 2022; 123(4):769-779.

PMID: 36449099 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-05098-9.

References

Srinivasan S, Myers L, Berenson G . Predictability of childhood adiposity and insulin for developing insulin resistance syndrome (syndrome X) in young adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Diabetes. 2002; 51(1):204-9. DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.51.1.204. View

Malina R, Morano P, Barron M, Miller S, Cumming S, Kontos A . Overweight and obesity among youth participants in American football. J Pediatr. 2007; 151(4):378-82. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.03.044. View

Ode J, Pivarnik J, Reeves M, Knous J . Body mass index as a predictor of percent fat in college athletes and nonathletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007; 39(3):403-9. DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000247008.19127.3e. View

Kahn B, Flier J . Obesity and insulin resistance. J Clin Invest. 2000; 106(4):473-81. PMC: 380258. DOI: 10.1172/JCI10842. View

Miller M, Croft L, Belanger A, Romero-Corral A, Somers V, Roberts A . Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in retired National Football League players. Am J Cardiol. 2008; 101(9):1281-4. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.12.029. View

Pan Y, Pratt C . Metabolic syndrome and its association with diet and physical activity in US adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008; 108(2):276-86. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.10.049. View

Alexander C, Landsman P, Grundy S . The influence of age and body mass index on the metabolic syndrome and its components. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2008; 10(3):246-50. DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2006.00695.x. View

Csabi G, Torok K, Jeges S, Molnar D . Presence of metabolic cardiovascular syndrome in obese children. Eur J Pediatr. 2000; 159(1-2):91-4. DOI: 10.1007/pl00013812. View

Laurson K, Eisenmann J . Prevalence of overweight among high school football linemen. JAMA. 2007; 297(4):363-4. DOI: 10.1001/jama.297.4.363. View

10.

Muniyappa R, Lee S, Chen H, Quon M . Current approaches for assessing insulin sensitivity and resistance in vivo: advantages, limitations, and appropriate usage. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007; 294(1):E15-26. DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00645.2007. View

11.

Katz A, Nambi S, Mather K, Baron A, Follmann D, Sullivan G . Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index: a simple, accurate method for assessing insulin sensitivity in humans. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000; 85(7):2402-10. DOI: 10.1210/jcem.85.7.6661. View

12.

Dempster P, Aitkens S . A new air displacement method for the determination of human body composition. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995; 27(12):1692-7. View

13.

Park Y, Zhu S, Palaniappan L, Heshka S, Carnethon M, Heymsfield S . The metabolic syndrome: prevalence and associated risk factor findings in the US population from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Arch Intern Med. 2003; 163(4):427-36. PMC: 3146257. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.163.4.427. View

14.

Noel M, VanHeest J, Zaneteas P, Rodgers C . Body composition in Division I football players. J Strength Cond Res. 2003; 17(2):228-37. DOI: 10.1519/1533-4287(2003)017<0228:bcidif>2.0.co;2. View

15.

Buell J, Calland D, Hanks F, Johnston B, Pester B, Sweeney R . Presence of metabolic syndrome in football linemen. J Athl Train. 2008; 43(6):608-16. PMC: 2582553. DOI: 10.4085/1062-6050-43.6.608. View

16.

Collins M, Sparling P, Snow T, Rosskopf L, Webb S, Omer J . Evaluation of the BOD POD for assessing body fat in collegiate football players. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999; 31(9):1350-6. DOI: 10.1097/00005768-199909000-00019. View

17.

Wilson P, Kannel W, Silbershatz H, DAgostino R . Clustering of metabolic factors and coronary heart disease. Arch Intern Med. 1999; 159(10):1104-9. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.159.10.1104. View

18.

Weiss R, Dziura J, Burgert T, Tamborlane W, Taksali S, Yeckel C . Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2004; 350(23):2362-74. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa031049. View

19.

Kraemer W, Torine J, Silvestre R, French D, Ratamess N, Spiering B . Body size and composition of National Football League players. J Strength Cond Res. 2005; 19(3):485-9. DOI: 10.1519/18175.1. View

20.

Reaven G . Banting lecture 1988. Role of insulin resistance in human disease. Diabetes. 1988; 37(12):1595-607. DOI: 10.2337/diab.37.12.1595. View