Sports stars who tip the scales | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Sports
Football
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
US Sports
Olympics
Climbing
Esports
Hockey
More
Football Tennis Golf Motorsport US Sports Olympics Climbing Esports Hockey
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Football
Tennis
Golf
Motorsport
US Sports
Olympics
Climbing
Esports
Hockey

Follow CNN

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN
Ad Feedback
Sports

Are these elite athletes ‘obese’?

Updated 10:30 AM EDT, Wed May 20, 2015
Link Copied!
Former Cy Young award winner C.C. Sabathia of the New York Yankees is 201 centimeters tall (6-foot 7-inches) and weighs 138 kilograms (304 pounds), giving him an obese body mass index (BMI) of 34. The pitcher, 34, is playing in his 15th MLB season.
Former Cy Young award winner C.C. Sabathia of the New York Yankees is 201 centimeters tall (6-foot 7-inches) and weighs 138 kilograms (304 pounds), giving him an obese body mass index (BMI) of 34. The pitcher, 34, is playing in his 15th MLB season.
Jim Rogash/Getty Image
Fellow baseballer Prince Fielder of the Texas Rangers is a self-described vegetarian who is fast approaching 300 career home runs. His frame of 183 cm and 125 kg (6 foot, 275 lbs) also categorizes him as obese in terms of BMI.
Fellow baseballer Prince Fielder of the Texas Rangers is a self-described vegetarian who is fast approaching 300 career home runs. His frame of 183 cm and 125 kg (6 foot, 275 lbs) also categorizes him as obese in terms of BMI.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Image
Glen "Big Baby" Davis of the Los Angeles Clippers has gone vegan in the past to curb his weight of 131 kg (288 lbs). Some doctors have advised against cutting meat, advocating a low carbohydrate, high fat diet instead.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis of the Los Angeles Clippers has gone vegan in the past to curb his weight of 131 kg (288 lbs). Some doctors have advised against cutting meat, advocating a low carbohydrate, high fat diet instead.
Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Image
Davis is playing effective minutes in the Clippers' playoff run. At 206 cm tall (6-foot 9-inches), his BMI of over 30 qualifies him as obese -- however, the index is often criticized for not distinguishing between muscle and fat.
Davis is playing effective minutes in the Clippers' playoff run. At 206 cm tall (6-foot 9-inches), his BMI of over 30 qualifies him as obese -- however, the index is often criticized for not distinguishing between muscle and fat.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Image
English footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa is known as "The Beast" due to his imposing 105 kg (231 lbs) bulk. He plays in the lower leagues, now at AFC Wimbledon, and scored against top-flight team Liverpool in an FA Cup third-round match on January 5, 2015.
English footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa is known as "The Beast" due to his imposing 105 kg (231 lbs) bulk. He plays in the lower leagues, now at AFC Wimbledon, and scored against top-flight team Liverpool in an FA Cup third-round match on January 5, 2015.
AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS
Former rugby star Ollie le Roux -- pictured in action  for South Africa during the 1999 World Cup -- weighed 137 kilograms (302 lbs) during his playing days. He has discredited the diet encouraged within rugby at the time.
Former rugby star Ollie le Roux -- pictured in action for South Africa during the 1999 World Cup -- weighed 137 kilograms (302 lbs) during his playing days. He has discredited the diet encouraged within rugby at the time.
David Rogers /Allsport
Recently traded to the Miami Dolphins, Ndamukong Suh (pictured in his former #90 at the Detroit Lions) is one of the fiercest pass-rushers in the NFL and a four-time Pro Bowler. He weighs 139 kg (306 lbs) and stands 193 cm tall (6 foot 4 inches), giving him a BMI of over 37.
Recently traded to the Miami Dolphins, Ndamukong Suh (pictured in his former #90 at the Detroit Lions) is one of the fiercest pass-rushers in the NFL and a four-time Pro Bowler. He weighs 139 kg (306 lbs) and stands 193 cm tall (6 foot 4 inches), giving him a BMI of over 37.
Leon Halip/Getty Images
Golfer John Daly, who has won two majors, underwent lap-band surgery in 2009 to keep his weight in check.
Golfer John Daly, who has won two majors, underwent lap-band surgery in 2009 to keep his weight in check.
Scott Halleran/Getty Images
Irish golfer Shane Lowry, ranked 51st in the world, is a two-time winner on the European Tour. The 28-year-old weighs 102 kg (225 lbs) and stands 183 cm (6 foot) tall, giving him a technically obese BMI over 30.
Irish golfer Shane Lowry, ranked 51st in the world, is a two-time winner on the European Tour. The 28-year-old weighs 102 kg (225 lbs) and stands 183 cm (6 foot) tall, giving him a technically obese BMI over 30.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Image
American shot-putter Reese Hoffa, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, weighs in at 147 kg (324 lbs). His BMI of 45 is considered extremely obese.
American shot-putter Reese Hoffa, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics, weighs in at 147 kg (324 lbs). His BMI of 45 is considered extremely obese.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Image
Super-heavyweight fighter Eric "Butterbean" Esch (L) has 77 career victories in the ring. At 193 kg (425 lbs), he is one of the heaviest professional athletes in history. His BMI of nearly 59 is beyond categorization on the scale.
Super-heavyweight fighter Eric "Butterbean" Esch (L) has 77 career victories in the ring. At 193 kg (425 lbs), he is one of the heaviest professional athletes in history. His BMI of nearly 59 is beyond categorization on the scale.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Image
Moroccan footballer Adel Taarabt of English team QPR was accused by his former manager Harry Redknapp of being "about three stone (19 kg or 41 lbs) overweight" last year, although his BMI of 24 was considered normal.
Moroccan footballer Adel Taarabt of English team QPR was accused by his former manager Harry Redknapp of being "about three stone (19 kg or 41 lbs) overweight" last year, although his BMI of 24 was considered normal.
Mike Hewitt/Getty Image

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Sports
Watch Listen Live TV
Follow CNN
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.