8 causes of obesity in sports athletes and its negative effects

Obesity in sports athletes is less common than in the general population, but can still occur due to various factors.

It is essential to note that obesity in athletes often differs from obesity in sedentary individuals. The cause is that they are more active through vigorous movements in sports activities and maintain fitness.

Fitness is a state of well-being that allows people to perform daily activities with vigour, participate in physical activities, and reduce the risk of health problems.

Basic fitness components to reduce health risks:

There are five basic fitness components, which are important for good health:

Cardiorespiratory endurance – It involves having a conditioned heart and lungs that can supply the body with oxygen without stress to the heart. We develop it by doing aerobic exercises like running, cycling, dancing, etc.

Muscular strength – Muscular strength is the amount of force produced by a muscle. Resistance training is used to produce muscular strength.

Muscular endurance – Muscular endurance is the amount of force produced by a muscle over some time, It also develops muscle mass by doing something over a long period. Muscular endurance is closely related to cardiorespiratory endurance, as aerobic movements also need to be sustained for long periods where the muscles are involved.

Flexibility – Flexibility is the looseness or elasticity of muscles, which allows the joint to move through a full range of motion. This is often the most neglected part of fitness.

Body composition – Body composition is the percentage of body fat compared to lean body tissue. Lean body tissue is muscle, bone, water and organs.

In every game, athletes have to maintain those components even after they retire. The main cause of obesity is that athletes fail to maintain their health as well as those basic components which results in weight gain and obesity. Also, physical inactivity results in substantial, negative health consequences like high blood glucose, high blood pressure and high lipids, all occurring more often among sedentary adults or lifestyles. These problems increase the risk for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, type II diabetes, and hypertension.

Here are some potential causes and contributing factors of obesity:

1.  Overeating/ overconsumption of calories: Even athletes can gain weight if they consume more calories than they burn through exercise and daily activities. High-calorie diets, especially when combined with inadequate portion control, can lead to weight gain.
2. Poor dietary choices: Athletes may make poor food choices, such as consuming excessive amounts of high-sugar or high-fat foods, which can contribute to weight gain.
3. Inactive during off-seasons: Many athletes have off-seasons where they reduce their training intensity or take a break from their sport. During this time, if they don’t adjust their calorie intake accordingly, they gain weight due to low energy expenditure.
4. Muscle mass vs. Fat: Athletes often have higher muscle mass due to their training, which can make them heavier. Some athletes misinterpret muscle mass as obesity.
5. Hormonal imbalance: Hormonal imbalances are related to thyroid function or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which can affect an athlete’s metabolism and contribute to weight gain.
6. Emotional factors: Like the general population, even athletes can experience stress, anxiety, depression or emotional eating which may lead to overeating.
7. Injury or illness: Injured or ill athletes tend to train less or sometimes avoid training due to major injuries, which leads to weight gain through overeating.
8. Overtraining syndrome: Paradoxically, some athletes may gain weight due to overtraining syndrome, a condition where exercise leads to hormonal imbalances, fatigue, and increased appetite.

It is important to remember that not all athletes who gain weight should be considered obese in the clinical sense. Increased muscle mass and weight fluctuations are common in athletes, and a healthcare professional should assess their overall health and body composition to determine if there are any underlying concerns related to obesity. Preventing or addressing obesity in athletes often requires a combination of proper nutrition, regular exercise, and individualized support and guidance.

You can also read research on the risk of developing obesity from the National Library of Medicine.

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