A new international study has revealed a troubling trend: sudden cardiac death is responsible for an unusually high number of deaths among female bodybuilders around the world.
The research, published in the European Heart Journal, shows that these deaths often occur in young, seemingly healthy women who take part in professional bodybuilding competitions.
Sudden cardiac death happens when the heart suddenly stops beating, often without warning. It is rare in young adults, which makes the high number of such deaths among female bodybuilders particularly concerning.
The study, led by Dr. Marco Vecchiato from the University of Padova in Italy, is the first large-scale investigation into deaths among female competitive bodybuilders.
His team found that 31% of all reported deaths in this group were due to sudden cardiac death. Even more alarming, professional female bodybuilders were more than 20 times more likely to die from sudden cardiac death than amateur competitors.
According to Dr. Vecchiato, the intense physical demands of bodybuilding—combined with extreme diets, fasting, dehydration, and the possible use of performance-enhancing substances—can put enormous strain on the heart and blood vessels.
“These strategies help competitors achieve the look required on stage,” he said, “but they can have serious consequences for cardiovascular health.”
The researchers collected data on 9,447 female bodybuilders who had competed in at least one International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation event between 2005 and 2020.
They searched reports of deaths in several languages using news articles, social media, bodybuilding forums, and blogs. After verifying and cross-checking the information, they confirmed 32 deaths. The average age of the women who died was just 42 years.
The study also found an unusually high number of deaths from suicide and homicide—together accounting for 13% of all cases, a rate four times higher than that of male bodybuilders.
This suggests that female bodybuilders may face additional social and psychological pressures related to body image, performance demands, and substance use.
While the study relied on publicly available information—meaning some deaths may have gone unreported—it still paints a concerning picture of the risks faced by women in professional bodybuilding.
In many cases, autopsy data were missing, so some causes of death had to be estimated based on available reports rather than confirmed medical examinations.
Dr. Vecchiato emphasized that the results should serve as a warning.
“For female bodybuilders, the pursuit of extreme muscularity and leanness may come at the cost of health,” he said. He urged greater awareness of these risks and called for safer training and nutrition practices within the sport.
He also highlighted the importance of medical screening for athletes who may appear fit but are at hidden risk of heart problems. “Even young, strong athletes can be vulnerable,” he said. “It’s time to rethink what it means to be healthy in competitive bodybuilding.”
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