# Sumo wrestlers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 20, 2001, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sumo-wrestlers/50949 "2001-01-20T01:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![insider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bbe5ce/32.png) [@insider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/insider)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2001, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sumo-wrestlers/50949/1 "2001-01-20T01:47:58Z")
What is the life expectancy of Sumo wrestlers? You would think that they would die of excessive overweight or other obesity related problems. Would it also be difficult to buy life insurance? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sumo-wrestlers/50949/2 "2001-01-21T01:50:08Z")
A brief web search only came up with [this page](http://www.kampo.mpt.go.jp/kenkou/info9807.html) which is in Japanese and doesn’t cite the source, but says that Sumo wrestlers’ life expectancy is 4 to 8 years less than the national average. I have no idea about life insurance. They don’t stay at that weight for the rest of the life though - Sumo wrestlers usually need to try hard to maintain the weight. Many retired Sumo wrestlers look healthy - big and well built, but not overweight. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2001, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sumo-wrestlers/50949/3 "2001-01-22T01:53:46Z")
I searched for about 12 seconds and came up with [This Site In English](http://www.scgroup.com/sumo/faq/) which seems to be quite comprehensive. You will probably find all or most of your answers there. 😃 Cartooniverse