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Male Bodybuilders Face High Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death, Especially Those Who Compete Professionally
- On May 21, 2025, a study conducted by a team at the University of Padova, headed by sports medicine expert Dr. Marco Vecchiato, revealed that male bodybuilders worldwide face a significantly increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
- The study examined over 20,000 athletes who competed in bodybuilding and fitness competitions organized by the global governing body between 2005 and 2020 to explore the increase in early mortality within the sport.
- Bodybuilding includes intense resistance workouts, aggressive methods for losing weight quickly such as strict dieting and dehydration, and frequent use of performance-enhancing drugs, all of which may negatively affect cardiovascular health.
- Findings show that nearly 38% of 121 bodybuilder deaths were sudden cardiac deaths, with professional bodybuilders facing a risk five times higher than amateurs, and affected competitors averaged under 35 years old.
- The research highlights hidden heart risks behind muscular physiques, calls for better health monitoring and cultural changes in bodybuilding, and stresses that physical excellence should not come at severe health costs.
30 Articles
30 Articles
Male bodybuilders face high risk of sudden cardiac death, especially those who compete professionally
Sudden cardiac death is responsible for an unusually high proportion of deaths in male bodybuilders worldwide with the highest risk among professional bodybuilders, according to new research.
Pro Bodybuilders Face Over 14 Times Higher Risk Of Sudden Cardiac Death
Behind all that buff bravado, professional bodybuilders face a risk of sudden cardiac death more than 14 times higher than their amateur counterparts. A new international study tracked over 20,000 male bodybuilders across 16 years, uncovering a disturbing pattern of premature deaths that raises serious questions about the safety of competitive bodybuilding at elite levels. The post Pro Bodybuilders Face Over 14 Times Higher Risk Of Sudden Cardia…
Research shows male bodybuilders face high risk of sudden cardiac death, especially those who compete
Sudden cardiac death is responsible for an unusually high proportion of deaths in male bodybuilders worldwide, with the highest risk among professional bodybuilders, according to research published in the European Heart Journal.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Scientists raise alarm over sudden deaths among professional body builders
Autopsy reports showed thickening or enlargement of heart among many deceased bodybuilders
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