The Dual Nature of Sumo Health: In-Ring vs. Post-Retirement
For active sumo wrestlers, the health narrative is complex. The misconception that their massive size equates to poor health is often challenged by their athletic prowess. During their careers, intense daily training and a high-protein diet of chanko-nabe keep many wrestlers surprisingly metabolically fit. Scans of active rikishi show that much of their fat is subcutaneous (under the skin), rather than the more dangerous visceral fat that surrounds vital organs. However, this unique metabolic state is temporary and highly dependent on their rigorous training schedule.
The Health Shift After Retirement
Upon retirement, the demanding lifestyle of a sumo wrestler comes to an abrupt halt. The intensive training sessions cease, but the ingrained habit of consuming thousands of calories daily is difficult to overcome. This sudden and dramatic shift is a primary driver for the severe health problems that emerge later in life. The accumulated body mass, once a functional advantage, becomes a significant health liability.
Specific Health Problems Faced by Retired Sumo Wrestlers
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Issues
The enormous body mass maintained during a sumo career puts a tremendous strain on the cardiovascular system. When the high-intensity exercise stops, this strain continues without the mitigating benefits of intense training, leading to serious heart problems. Retired wrestlers who struggle to lose weight are highly susceptible to several conditions:
- High blood pressure: The sheer volume of body mass, along with years of high salt intake, contributes to chronic hypertension.
- Heart attacks: The increased risk of cardiovascular disease makes heart attacks a common cause of premature death among retired wrestlers.
- Type 2 Diabetes: The switch to a less active lifestyle while consuming excess calories often leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. This is a serious complication, as shown by the case of wrestler Shobushi, whose pre-existing diabetes was a complicating factor in his death at age 28.
- Liver problems: The heavy alcohol intake common among many wrestlers, particularly higher-ranked rikishi who socialize with sponsors, contributes to liver damage.
Musculoskeletal and Joint Pain
Years of intense physical combat, repeated falls, and the constant stress of carrying excessive weight take a permanent toll on a wrestler's joints and skeleton. This leads to chronic pain and debilitating conditions in retirement.
- Arthritis: The knees, ankles, and lower back, which bear the brunt of the wrestlers' weight and impact, are particularly vulnerable to arthritis. One of the most famous examples is Yokozuna Terunofuji, who battled severe knee arthritis and diabetes during his career. A 2022 study on junior sumo wrestlers already showed early signs of osteoarthritic changes in their knees.
- Injuries: While some injuries heal, many accumulate over time. Spinal injuries, ligament damage, and concussions are common and can cause persistent problems decades later.
Respiratory and Sleep Disorders
Carrying immense body mass, particularly in the neck and abdominal areas, can lead to sleep disorders.
- Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep, is common among overweight individuals. For retired sumo wrestlers, the risk is extremely high due to their body composition. This can lead to daytime fatigue and puts additional stress on the cardiovascular system.
Long-Term Health Risks: Active vs. Retired Wrestlers
| Feature | Active Sumo Wrestler | Retired Sumo Wrestler |
|---|---|---|
| Body Composition | Primarily subcutaneous fat due to intense exercise; some visceral fat accumulation is possible. | Visceral fat can increase dramatically if weight is not managed after retirement. |
| Metabolic Health | Often metabolically healthy despite high BMI due to rigorous training and high energy expenditure. | High risk for metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension. |
| Cardiovascular Risk | Elevated blood pressure and stress on the heart due to large body mass. | Significantly higher risk for heart attacks and cardiovascular disease as exercise stops. |
| Joint Health | High risk of acute injuries and early degenerative changes, particularly in the knees. | Long-term chronic pain and severe arthritis in joints from years of stress and impact. |
| Life Expectancy | Difficult to measure for this specific population during career, but overall lower than average. | Reduced significantly compared to the average Japanese male, with estimates ranging from 60-65 years. |
| Weight Management | Maintained through high-calorie, controlled diet and intense training. | Must drastically change diet and lifestyle to lose weight, a difficult and often unsuccessful process. |
The Retirement Adjustment: A Critical Health Period
For many rikishi, retirement from sumo is not a gradual process but a single, final day in the ring. The sudden shift in lifestyle is a shock to the body, which has been conditioned for years to a cycle of intense training and massive calorie consumption. The post-retirement period is the most critical time for a sumo wrestler's long-term health. Success stories exist, such as former yokozuna Takanohana Koji, who managed to return to a more normal weight and lifestyle. However, many others fail to make the necessary changes, and the health problems that have been kept at bay by intense athleticism quickly surface. The transition requires strict dietary control and a continued commitment to exercise, often for the sake of survival, not just sport.
Conclusion
While active sumo wrestlers demonstrate a surprising level of metabolic health despite their size due to intense training, the health consequences become alarmingly clear after they retire. The combination of sustained high body mass, accumulated injuries, and the abrupt end of their physically demanding lifestyle leads to a high incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, severe joint problems, and other obesity-related issues. This takes a significant toll on their life expectancy. The path to a healthier retirement is challenging and requires a complete lifestyle overhaul, a challenge that not all former wrestlers are able to overcome. Ultimately, while the sport may glorify size, the long-term health outlook for those who reach its highest ranks is often grim, underscoring the significant physical sacrifices made for a career in sumo wrestling.
For more insight into the health of athletes and the effects of high-performance lifestyles, based on information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies have investigated the metabolic risk factors present even in junior sumo wrestlers.
