Are Strongman Healthy Or Obese?
Many people argued about whether strongman athletes are clinically obese or in perfect health. There are debates on quora with some saying that strongman athletes are obese based on BMI. While some say that strongman athletes only have 22% body fat which makes them perfectly healthy. In this article, we are going to look at elite strongman to see whether these athletes are actually harming themselves by engaging in this sport.
Body Fat Percentages in Strongman Athletes
In an academic study, scientists investigated 5 different elite strongman’s body composition. It is found that the elite strongman athletes average body fat percentage is only 22.6% in the first year of study. In the 5th year, the 5 strongman’s body fat percentage even dropped to 17.2%! When we take a look at the visceral fat, within 5 years, the 5 strongman’s visceral fat level dropped by 1.3kg. This shows that a progression in the sport can enhance physical structures of the athletes and lower body fat!
When we compare these statistics to an average person, we see that an average man can have a body fat percentage from 8-19% to be considered healthy. This means that if we just judge by body fat percentage, these strongman athletes are in perfect health! Another good news is that these strongman have better bone density after 5 years. This can lower injury rate.
BMI – Strongman Are Clinically Obese
In high school, we were taught to measure people’s health with BMI. BMI is a simple calculation of weight over height and it disregards body composition. By this means, all elite strongman athletes are medically obese as stated in this study:
All strongmen were clinically obese (BMI > 29.9 kg/m2), and two were morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) significantly increasing their risk for CVD, breast, colon, prostate, endometrium, kidney and gall bladder cancer and T2DM.
Chappel and Simper (2020)
When we take a look at the study, the scientists agreed that strongman athletes eat an excessive amount of food. They mentioned that having over 5000 kcal a day would only shorten their life expectancy but they were not sure what energy would be required to fuel their athletic performances.
However, these scientists showed that the strongman athletes have above average human strength. Through measuring grip power, they saw that these athletes have amazing peak power combined with static power. Meaning that strongman athletes can hold things and stay stationery or do powerful dynamic movements!
Why Are Strongman So Big?
It feels like academic studies fail to achieve a conclusion to whether strongman’s lifestyle is sustainable at all. So, let us take a look at strongman as a sport. When we see Eddie Hall pull his 500kg deadlift, he suffered from nosebleed which is probably induced by the rapid rise in blood pressure. This is a prime example of how strongman athletes have to constantly push through mental barriers in this sport.
The need for deadlifting weird objects like cars or pulling planes are also very physically demanding. Such moves coupled with strongman’s body size – we understand why strongman athletes take breaks from the sport regularly.
Pushing our bodies to achieve great strength often mean higher heart rate during training. Again, as scientists pointed out, strongman athletes may have a weaker heart. With rigorous training and huge frame, strongman athletes may suffer from strokes and heart diseases.
Are Strongman Too Fat?
The perception of strongmen as being “too fat” is often a misunderstanding of the physique requirements and body composition that strongman athletes maintain for their sport. Strongman competitors come in various shapes and sizes, but there are several reasons why they might carry more body mass, including fat, than athletes in other sports.
Energy Reserves and Strength
Strongman events require immense amounts of energy, and having a higher body fat percentage can provide valuable energy reserves for these intense activities. Moreover, carrying extra weight can sometimes translate to increased leverage and stability, which can be advantageous in specific strongman events.
Different Aesthetic Goals
Unlike bodybuilders, who aim for a highly defined and sculpted appearance, strongmen prioritize function over form. Their goal is to maximize their strength and ability to perform various feats of strength, rather than to achieve a low body fat percentage. The aesthetic standards of strongman are thus different from other sports that emphasize leanness.
Muscle Mass vs. Fat
Strongmen have significant muscle mass beneath any layer of fat, which is necessary to handle the heavyweight and resistance involved in their sport. The muscle mass contributes more to their size than the fat. Their training regimens are focused on gaining strength and power, not on cutting weight or achieving a lean physique.
Final Thoughts
The arguments presented are based on scientific studies and personal knowledge on elite athletes. As we amateur strongman may not achieve the elite strongman’s weight, the health risks are different. Compared to not moving at all, being a strongman is definitely healthier than a sedentary lifestyle.
Strongman athletes also have strength that is functional and at times beyond scientists’ understanding of anatomy. The final thought is that we should continue working out to be stronger and watch our diets that we do not overeat what we can burn!
