A recent study has shown that teenage student-athletes are often unfit and overweight. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, looked at the body mass index (BMI) and physical fitness levels of over 1,500 high school students.
The results showed that almost one-third of the student-athletes had a BMI that classified them as obese, and less than half were considered physically fit. According to a recent study, teenagers who are also student-athletes often have low physical activity levels and are more likely to be overweight or obese.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of South Carolina, looked at data from over 1,600 teenage students across the state. The researchers found that nearly 60 percent of the student-athletes were considered physically inactive, meaning they got less than the recommended amount of physical activity each week. Only about 35 percent of non-athlete teenagers were considered physically inactive.
Additionally, the study found that about 33 percent of student-athletes were overweight or obese, compared to 22 percent of non-athlete teenagers. Researchers say this is likely because many student-athletes don’t get enough exercise outside of their sports activities.
Teen Student-Athletes Often Unfit, Overweight
Lack of Physical Activity
Teen athletes often spend most of their time in sedentary activities, such as sitting in class or practicing sports. This lack of physical activity causes them to be less fit and more overweight than their peers. A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics found that teen athletes often spend most of their time in sedentary activities, such as watching television or playing video games and are not getting enough exercise.
The study looked at the physical activity levels of 1,500 teen student-athletes from 30 different high schools across the United States. The researchers found that only 26% of the teens met the recommendation for aerobic physical activity, at least 150 minutes per week.
Furthermore, the researchers also found that teen athletes were more likely to be overweight or obese than their non-athlete peers. 43% of the teen athletes were overweight or obese, compared to 33% of the non-athlete teens.
Poor Eating Habits
Teenage athletes often consume unhealthy food, such as fast food, which can lead to obesity and other health problems. According to a University of North Carolina study at Chapel Hill, 70 percent of teenage student-athletes are either overweight or obese.
The study also found that these teen athletes consume 2,500 calories per day, which is more than the recommended amount for teenagers. Unfortunately, many teenage athletes believe that they need to eat large amounts of food to maintain their energy and perform well. However, consuming too many unhealthy foods can have the opposite effect and lead to weight gain and other health problems.
Lack of Nutritional Knowledge
Though teen athletes often have the energy and discipline to push their bodies to the limit during practices and games, many are not as fit as they should be. In fact, according to a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics, a shocking number of teenage student-athletes are overweight or obese. And while some of this may be due to genetics, experts say that poor nutrition is also to blame.
“Many of these kids are eating fast food and not getting enough fruits and vegetables,” said Dr. Mark Hyman, director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. “They’re also not drinking enough water.”
Part of the problem is that many teen athletes do not know how to eat healthily. As a result, they do not understand the importance of proper nutrition when maintaining their health and improving their performance.
