This eye-opening study adds to the scarce scholarly literature on professional athletes
bringing empirical rigor to issues often clouded by mystery and hearsay. It identifies
socioeconomic demographic and career variables as risk factors for mortality among former NBA
and NFL players along with hypotheses to be tested relating to elite athletes and other U.S.
populations. A detailed multivariate analysis compares mortality factors rates and outcomes
within and between the two leagues comparing them also with the general U.S. male population.
The findings and conclusions gleaned from this research offer possibilities for future research
to improve health and quality of life in this specific athlete cohort among athletes in
general in other groups and in the larger society. Potential risk factors analyzed in this
groundbreaking study: · Race · Body Mass Index (BMI)· U.S. birthplace region (Northeast West
Midwest South) · Years of playing experience · Playing position Mortality and Its Risk Factors
among Professional Athletes will spark interest among professionals and researchers in public
health sports medicine and epidemiology current and former NBA and NFL players their
families coaches trainers and union representatives non-professional basketball and
football players athletes from other sports and their families coaches and trainers social
scientists policymakers obesity researchers parents of children who play contact sports
students teachers and researchers in occupational health and racial disparities and health
care providers.
