For Big Athletes, 'Fat and Fit' a Myth

Superior size and strength can mean championships, scholarships and million-dollar paydays for today's athletes. But a comparison of professional baseball players and football players reveals that the larger professional athletes -- specifically football linemen -- are at greatly increased risk of cardiometabolic syndrome. These findings come on the heels of media reports suggesting that professional football players are twice as likely to die before age 50 as professional baseball players.