Do retired tennis pros ever become obese? (Like other sports)

[pound cat]

Tennis players keep playing their sport after they retire and stay in shape. Professional football players don't play their sport...nor do boxers or basketball pros.

[Gonzalito17]

Zina Garrison was rather hefty when she was Fed Cup captain. Lendl of course was big. Kafel was big but he lost a lot of the weight. Muster got fat but he got super fit again for his comeback two years ago. Saw Andres Gomez two years ago in Florida and he was definitley out of shape.

[TennisLovaLova]

At least they are rich when they retire

[Monsieur_DeLarge]

I think team sports, especially contact sports where you need to carry a lot of muscle, are more prone to producing heavier-than-average former players. People with that body type will naturally turn muscle to fat as they become too old to keep themselves in top condition. Tennis players aren't chunky to start with, so it's less likely to become a problem.

I seem to remember Ilie Nastase being a bit... "cuddly" after he retired, although he's not obese? Might be wrong, though. Kafelnikov and Lendl are obvious names; two who turned to golf in their retirement, instead of jumping on to the Champions Tour to keep in shape. And I'm surprised nobody's mentioned a certain Mr Nalbandian, who I don't think will be suffering from anorexia after he quits.

Originally Posted by Mustard

The late Horst Skoff was pretty big in his last few years of life.

I didn't know he'd died. Wow... guy was barely older than me. Always seems sadder when journeymen pass on, probably because there's no big hoo-ha memorials. I felt the same about Todd Witsken.


Regards,
MDL

[*Sparkle*]

The high profile ones seem to either go into seniors touring, or become coaches, so both of those will keep them fairly active.

It also seems that the top players don't just eat what they want, expecting to burn it off. They have specialised diets and treat food very much as a fuel. Looking at that list of what Michael Phelps eats, it seems like a chore to get through that many calories. Eating a regular diet may feel luxurious by comparison.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by Monsieur_DeLarge

I think team sports, especially contact sports where you need to carry a lot of muscle, are more prone to producing heavier-than-average former players. People with that body type will naturally turn muscle to fat as they become too old to keep themselves in top condition. Tennis players aren't chunky to start with, so it's less likely to become a problem.

That is physically impossible.

[batz]

Originally Posted by dangalak

That is physically impossible.

Indeed it is.

[Monsieur_DeLarge]

Originally Posted by dangalak

That is physically impossible.

Sigh, ok ok, "once they stop exercising their muscles will shrink, allowing adipose tissue to replace them."

I wasn't trying to give some kind of physiologically specific fitness-guru description in order to pass a medical exam.



Regards,
MDL

[Crisstti]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Look at Nadal Soccer Uncle....

Nadal will be overweight with those cookies.

Miguel Angel looks fine I think?.

[ollinger]

The OP is probably aware that most people gain weight after their 20s and 30s. Why would tennis players be any different in this regard. If anthing, one would expect it to happen MORE to them than the rest of us because of the more dramatic change in their activity levels.

[dangalak]

Originally Posted by ollinger

The OP is probably aware that most people gain weight after their 20s and 30s. Why would tennis players be any different in this regard. If anthing, one would expect it to happen MORE to them than the rest of us because of the more dramatic change in their activity levels.

The reason for this thread is, that apparently, the same isn't true for tennis players.

The reason this thread was made is, because that despite your expectation (which he seems to share) he can't seem to see it happening.

You're not very quick are you?

[CMM]

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Look at Nadal Soccer Uncle....

Originally Posted by kishnabe

Nadal will be overweight with those cookies.

Judging by his father's looks, I'd say it's possible.

[Shaolin]

Kafelnikov kinda let himself go.

[Alchemy-Z]

Tennis players that stay in the (spot light) tend to play the senior/champions pro tour and exo's

same with Golf.

no grampa league for Baseball/football/basketball. so they just stop playing.

[jokinla]

Originally Posted by Shaolin

Kafelnikov kinda let himself go.

Oh my goodness, "Hey Hey Hey"!

[nikdom]

BJK

[atatu]

When Peter Lundren was playing, he was a skinny, fast and strong. Now, not so much....

[JamieSafe]

I don't think you can ever stop playing tennis once you're hooked, although for pros it might be a different story since unlike us they actually decline...

[ollinger]

dang
no, I'm not very quick, but this allows me to be careful, and all I see in this thread is relatively few anecdotal examples of former players, some of whom are shown to have gained quite alot of weight. So your assertion that "the same isn't true for tennis players" (of which there are thousands of former touring pros) appears to be baseless and not supported here by any evidence.

[CCNM]

Ivan Lendl looks like he's packed on a few pounds.