Anthropometric Cross-Sectional Analysis Essay
The article “Anthropometric Cross-Sectional Comparisons of College Football Players and Potential Health Implications” focuses on the change in body weight and height of college football players from 1950 to 2010 and looks at the implications an extreme size may have on the health of those football players. The health implications that were viewed included “injury, heat stress, obesity, and general health stress” (Jacobson). The positions focused on were line positions (offensive linemen [OLs] and defensive linemen [DLs]) and speed positions (wide receivers [WRs] and cornerbacks [DBs]) from National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 colleges that agreed to participate in the study. Jacobson conducted his research by obtaining
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Yes, the height and weight of college football players has increased over seven decades. From 1950 to 2010, there was a 50.8% increase in weight for OLs and a 50.9% increase in weight for DLs. However, height only increased by 5.2% in OLs and increased by 6.7% in DLs. In addition to the changes in height and weight, Jacobson also looked at the differences in height and weight between offensive line positions – center, guard, and tackle. The comparisons between these positions were of those from 1950-1960 and their counterparts from 2000-2010. A statistically significant difference in weight was found “between guards and tackles, but not between centers” (Jacobson). No statistical difference was found in the mean weights of their 2000-2010 counterparts. The study found that guards were “slightly shorter than both tackles and centers” for the 1950-1960 lineman. When the 2000-2010 linemen were looked at, the tackles were “significantly taller that both guards and centers” (Jacobson). WRs and DBs did showcase an increase in height and weight over the same seven decades, their increases weren’t quite as dramatic as the line positions. WRs and DBs showed an increase of 7.7% and 10.1%, respectively, in weight and an increase of 1.9% and 2.3% in height, respectively, from 1950-2010
Yes, the height and weight of college football players has increased over seven decades. From 1950 to 2010, there was a 50.8% increase in weight for OLs and a 50.9% increase in weight for DLs. However, height only increased by 5.2% in OLs and increased by 6.7% in DLs. In addition to the changes in height and weight, Jacobson also looked at the differences in height and weight between offensive line positions – center, guard, and tackle. The comparisons between these positions were of those from 1950-1960 and their counterparts from 2000-2010. A statistically significant difference in weight was found “between guards and tackles, but not between centers” (Jacobson). No statistical difference was found in the mean weights of their 2000-2010 counterparts. The study found that guards were “slightly shorter than both tackles and centers” for the 1950-1960 lineman. When the 2000-2010 linemen were looked at, the tackles were “significantly taller that both guards and centers” (Jacobson). WRs and DBs did showcase an increase in height and weight over the same seven decades, their increases weren’t quite as dramatic as the line positions. WRs and DBs showed an increase of 7.7% and 10.1%, respectively, in weight and an increase of 1.9% and 2.3% in height, respectively, from 1950-2010