A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
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Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
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Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
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) ) [field_img_box_lancio_news] => Array ( [#theme] => field [#weight] => 0 [#title] => Immagine [#access] => 1 [#label_display] => above [#view_mode] => teaser [#language] => und [#field_name] => field_img_box_lancio_news [#field_type] => image [#field_translatable] => 0 [#entity_type] => node [#bundle] => box_lancio_news [#object] => stdClass Object ( [vid] => 492379 [uid] => 2032 [title] => Alert on Sudden Death Risk Among Bodybuilders [log] => [status] => 1 [comment] => 0 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [nid] => 118811 [type] => box_lancio_news [language] => it [created] => 1747991367 [changed] => 1747991367 [tnid] => 0 [translate] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1747991367 [revision_uid] => 2032 [body] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
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Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
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The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
[summary] => [format] => 2 [safe_value] =>A new study conducted by an international team coordinated by the University of Padua has revealed alarming data regarding the health of male bodybuilders, particularly professionals. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, analysed over 20,000 athletes who competed in IFBB events between 2005 and 2020, with an average follow-up period of more than eight years.
Marco Vecchiato, the study's lead author, highlights a growing number of premature deaths in recent years among bodybuilders and fitness influencers, pointing to a gap in the understanding of the long-term risks associated with competitive bodybuilding.
Andrea Ermolao adds that 121 deaths were identified, 38% of which were due to sudden cardiac death—often linked to structural changes in the heart and the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The risk of sudden cardiac death in professional bodybuilders was found to be more than five times higher than in amateur athletes.
The research, a result of international collaboration between Italian, American, and Austrian scientists, systematically reviewed deaths of international bodybuilders up to July 2023, using web sources in five different languages. Among the few available autopsy reports, findings included heart thickening or enlargement and, in some cases, coronary artery disease, with several athletes having a history of doping substance abuse.
Competitive bodybuilding imposes significant physical and psychological stress through intensive training, extreme diets, dehydration techniques, and doping, all contributing to the higher incidence of fatal events. These factors can severely strain the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of dangerous arrhythmias and structural heart changes over time.
The study underscores the need for safer training practices, regular medical check-ups, and a cultural shift that rejects doping. The findings call for the implementation of proactive cardiovascular screening and closer cooperation between the medical community, sports federations, and institutions to ensure safer participation in bodybuilding.
While this study focused on male bodybuilders due to greater data availability, the research team is already working on a parallel analysis dedicated to female athletes and a broader investigation into how practices and risks associated with the discipline have evolved over time.
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