Fatness drive 2013 - update

[sasguru]

Some evidence for my view here:

http://sma.org.au/wp-content/uploads...tesarticle.pdf

Endurance athletes seem to live longer but not power athletes.
although too many confounding variables to say.

[Mich the Tester]

Problem is when you get older physical things (joints etc) can stop you exercising as much as you want to.
It would be interesting to see some data on longevity in football versus rugby players (obviously adjusting for lifestyle and other factors). I may be wrong, but I'd bet my bottom dollar that footy players live longer.

You might have a point there as far as modern professional era rugby is concerned. I don't think that good data will be available yet as rugby only left the shamateurism era in 95 and since then there's been a huge change in how players train, the laws of the game and the techniques used. I would guess, for what it's worth, that players from the 60s and 70s who've kept themselves reasonably fit will have at least normal life expectancy, but I'm not sure about the last 20 years.

Since I stopped playing I've looked at the game and I feel it's all getting a bit silly. John Beattie, an ex Scotland international has raised concerns over studies into early onset dementia BBC Sport - John Beattie: Dementia research is 'game-changer' for rugby and I agree with his concerns that players are returning too quickly after getting knocked out. I think we need law changes to reduce big impacts, starting with the welcome changes to the scrum, but also looking at reducing the number of substitutes; it's crazy to have 7 fresh guys trained to play for 20 minutes as ' impact players' smashing into a bunch of people who are already knackered from playing 60 minutes.

Well I won't bore you with more detail but I think modern rugby has some problems that need tackling in the health area. The 15 man game was never concieved to be played the way it is now. 7s is less of a concern as the players tend to be slimmer and lighter and there aren't so many huge impacts.

[d000hg]

I am sure I read somewhere that sweating does help as it reduces the amount of water in the fatty deposits which makes them easier to break down and get rid off...

or it may have been about not drinking to much water as it increases the amount of water in fatty deposits which etc etc etc

or I may have just dreamt that?

Well it's the kind of thing you could well believe to be possible, regardless if it's true

[Mich the Tester]

Some evidence for my view here:

http://sma.org.au/wp-content/uploads...tesarticle.pdf

Endurance athletes seem to live longer but not power athletes.
although too many confounding variables to say.

There are genetic differences between endurance athletes and power athletes that may explain this. Muscle fibre type and hormonal differences could play a big role. Quite how you fit rugby players, road racing cycling sprinters like Mark Cavendish or tennis players and footballers into those categories I don't know, as those sports involve power and endurance.

[sasguru]

There are genetic differences between endurance athletes and power athletes that may explain this. Muscle fibre type and hormonal differences could play a big role. Quite how you fit rugby players, road racing cycling sprinters like Mark Cavendish or tennis players and footballers into those categories I don't know, as those sports involve power and endurance.

Yes it's hard to control for confounding factors: athletes tend to be superior genetic types anyway, so it's possible they might live longer even if they didn't do any sports.

[sasguru]

As I've said in the other thread: a good recipe for a healthy life is moderation in all things: and that includes exercise. There is such a thing as too much.

[d000hg]

What about moderation in respect to CUK posting?

[Mich the Tester]

What about moderation in respect to CUK posting?

Silly idea.

[DaveB]

You might have a point there as far as modern professional era rugby is concerned. I don't think that good data will be available yet as rugby only left the shamateurism era in 95 and since then there's been a huge change in how players train, the laws of the game and the techniques used. I would guess, for what it's worth, that players from the 60s and 70s who've kept themselves reasonably fit will have at least normal life expectancy, but I'm not sure about the last 20 years.

Since I stopped playing I've looked at the game and I feel it's all getting a bit silly. John Beattie, an ex Scotland international has raised concerns over studies into early onset dementia BBC Sport - John Beattie: Dementia research is 'game-changer' for rugby and I agree with his concerns that players are returning too quickly after getting knocked out. I think we need law changes to reduce big impacts, starting with the welcome changes to the scrum, but also looking at reducing the number of substitutes; it's crazy to have 7 fresh guys trained to play for 20 minutes as ' impact players' smashing into a bunch of people who are already knackered from playing 60 minutes.

Well I won't bore you with more detail but I think modern rugby has some problems that need tackling in the health area. The 15 man game was never concieved to be played the way it is now. 7s is less of a concern as the players tend to be slimmer and lighter and there aren't so many huge impacts.

You moght want to have a read of this :

Concussions in American football - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To see where Rugby may be going.

Leaving aside the old argument about wearing body armour and helmets to play what is essentially a version of Rugby League, American Football players are hitting harder and faster every season and are years ahead of Rugby in terms of training for size strength and speed.

[oracleslave]

players are hitting harder and faster every season and are years ahead of Rugby in terms of training for size strength and speed.

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