This breaking story comes from the Kansas City Star. I’m sure this will come as a surprise to all, but apparently dyed-in-the-wool sports fans have terrible eating and exercise habits.

Daniel Sweeney and Donna Quimby, professors at Arkansas Little Rock, conducted the study in which 515 people on campus responded to an e-mail survey.

The survey found that 26 percent of sports fans ate vegetables only one to three times a month, compared with 19.2 percent of non-sports fans, while 11.9 percent of sports fans have four or more drinks when they consume alcohol compared with 3.2 percent of non-sports fans. Additionally, 21 percent of fans almost always ate high-fat food compared with 13 percent of non-sports fans.

Sports fans had an average body-mass index of 27.4, while non sports fans were at 25.09. A BMI between 25-29.9 is considered overweight, while 30 or higher is considered obese.

“Knowing something is there is good, but it’s not enough to affect change. The next step is why is this happening? What is going on there?”

Why is this happening? I’ll tell you why. My opinion is that most “die-hard” sports fans typically run from their mid-twenties onward. This is because they’ve had a considerable amount of years to gain a proper knowledge about sports and have grown to truly love their favorite team. I find that, as these fans get older, they either get married or care so little about getting married that the idea of looking good can become insignificant. Let’s face it, if you can find a mate that is also a crazy sports fan, or can at least tolerate your addiction, snatch them up right away.

I also think the problem lies in both the number of sports and their scheduling. It’s rare these days to find a fan who only follows one sport. At any time of year, there are at least two college or professional leagues running. As fans become attached to their favorite teams, they may have more than one game to watch a day. This makes setting aside an hour or two for the gym after work nearly impossible. Obviously, it can be done. It’s all about discipline and setting a schedule for yourself that balances both an exercise and sports intake.

I suppose a step towards better living would be to eat a healthy meal while you’re watching sports. Still, I’ve never seen a buddy have a salad and a Diet Coke while a game is on. If you’re really serious about it, you could eat when you’re not in a sports setting, so as to avoid the temptation of unhealthy foods. But being a sports fan is all about the experience, which has proven to be more enjoyable than a regular job. So, what will a be? A nice beer, some chicken wings, and fries after the daily grind? Or a low-carb alternative and some lemon water?