Unexpected Deaths of Professional Bodybuilders Spark Health Warnings

The year 2021 marked a dark chapter for the bodybuilding community, with more than two dozen professional athletes dying unexpectedly within just 12 months—an alarming trend that captured global attention.

Among the deceased, the youngest was only 27.

Although numerous studies indicate that elite athletes typically enjoy longer lifespans than the general population, a surge in early deaths among bodybuilders has cast doubt on the safety of the sport.

In response to these concerns, researchers at the University of Padova in Italy conducted the first large-scale study examining the risk of sudden death among male bodybuilders.

Their results reveal a troubling pattern—one that, according to the authors, demands urgent attention from athletes, healthcare professionals, and sports organizations alike.

The study monitored over 20,000 bodybuilders for an average of eight years, during which 73 sudden deaths were recorded, with the average age of death being 42.

While some fatalities were linked to the use of steroids or performance-enhancing drugs, others resulted from car accidents, homicide, or suicide. However, the leading cause by a wide margin was sudden heart failure, accounting for 46 of the cases.

Sudden Heart Failure Risk Rises Sharply at the Top

Although the overall risk remains low for bodybuilders as a whole, the picture changes dramatically for top-level professionals. Their likelihood of experiencing sudden heart failure was found to be more than 14 times higher than that of amateur athletes—indicating that increased competitiveness in the sport may come with significantly heightened health risks.

Focusing specifically on competitors in the prestigious Mr. Olympia ‘open’ category—the highest level of international bodybuilding—researchers identified a “strikingly high” mortality rate.

Of the 100 elite athletes who had competed in the event over the years, 7 died unexpectedly from sudden causes.

Even more concerning, five of those deaths were confirmed or suspected cases of sudden cardiac death, with the average age of the deceased being just 36.

“The current data are deeply concerning,” the international team of researchers writes, “and warrant the creation of specific guidelines to prevent sudden death and sudden cardiac death among bodybuilders. These should include the routine availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for bystanders.”

The study’s conclusions are somewhat limited by a lack of comprehensive data—autopsies were only performed in about 10 percent of the sudden cardiac death cases—leaving many of the exact causes unknown.

How Extreme Training and Drug Use May Endanger Elite Bodybuilders’ Hearts

Nevertheless, the research team, led by sports medicine expert Marco Vecchiato of the University of Padova, believes that intense training, restrictive diets, and frequent use of performance-enhancing drugs are likely contributing to serious heart risks among elite professional bodybuilders.

“These practices can put considerable pressure on the cardiovascular system, heighten the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, and potentially cause long-term structural changes to the heart,” Vecchiato explains.

Autopsy reports included in the study consistently revealed thickened left ventricles and enlarged hearts in bodybuilders.

Previous Studies Reveal Striking Cardiac Enlargement in Bodybuilders

This finding supports earlier research, which showed that bodybuilders’ hearts were, on average, nearly 74 percent heavier than standard reference values, with left ventricles measuring 125 percent thicker than those of the average man.

While more studies are needed to understand the specific cardiovascular impacts of bodybuilding—especially in female athletes—Vecchiato emphasizes a key takeaway.

“Pursuing peak physical fitness is commendable, but pushing the body to extremes can pose serious health risks, especially to the heart,” he says.

“In light of this evidence, medical associations can no longer overlook the issue. They must work alongside sports federations and policymakers to encourage safer practices within the sport.”

Read the original article on: Science Alert

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