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To the Editor: Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.¹ The 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES) determined that 31% of US adult men and women were obese, a doubling of obesity prevalence since NHANES II (1976-1980).² Reports have indicated, although not fully documented, a trend toward larger players in the National Football League (NFL).³ We investigated whether, despite their status as professional athletes, a large proportion of NFL players would be classified as obese. We also compared the prevalence of obesity in the NFL with that of US males of a similar age sampled from the general population.

Methods

Weights, heights, and positions for active NFL football players in the 2003-2004 season were obtained from the official NFL Web site.⁴ The Carolina Panthers confirmed that the weights and heights had been measured; we were unable to obtain similar information from the other teams. Two players were excluded . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Joyce B. Harp, MD
jharp@unc.edu

Lindsay Hecht, BSPH
Department of Nutrition
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC

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