Coronary Heart Disease: Risk Profiles of College Football Players

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Abstract
In brief: Before their preseason training, 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association division IA football players were evaluated for several coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors: blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, percent body fat, family history, cigarette smoking, and aerobic capacity. Offensive linemen had significantly higher mean values for triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and percent body fat, and lower aerobic capacity. Food records showed that intakes of fat, sugar, cholesterol, and sodium were higher than recommended levels. The data suggest that the large, overfat college football player may have an increased risk of CHD.