Association of Body Mass Index and Health Status in Firefighters

Abstract

This study evaluates the usefulness of body mass index (BMI) as a preventive screening tool for general health and duty fitness status among firefighters. Two major BMI categorization methods were used: (1) "standard" [low (< 27), medium (> or = 27 < 30), high (> 30)]; and (2) WHO [(normal (< 25), overweight (> or = 25 < 30), obese (> or = 30 < 39), morbidly obese (> or = 39)]. Using the "standard" categorization, nearly 60% of individuals had medium or high BMI's; using the World Health Organization categorization, 80.7% of individuals were found to be overweight, obese, or morbidly obese. Statistically significant, inverse correlation between BMI and each of the following parameters was noted: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, VO2max, METS, and total cholesterol. Inconsistent or statistically insignificant correlation was found between BMI and HDL, Chol/HDL ratio, triglycerides, FVC% predicted, and FEV1 second% predicted. Findings were similar to previous studies of such correlates. BMI continues to prove useful as a screening tool and may be useful in identifying individual firefighters for health and fitness intervention measures.

The Influence of Age on Aerobic Capacity and Health Indicators of Three Rescue Groups

“…Clark, Rene, Theurer, et al found that 80.7% of the firefighters from their study were obese or morbidly obese; this caused a negative relationship between their weight and V O2 max [21]. BMI could be a useful variable when identifying health levels of candidates for rescue groups and deciding on measures improving their performance.…”

“…BMI measures an individual's weight and height and is useful to identify firefighters' health levels [21]. Body fat percentage was measured with Faulkner's equation [24]: body fat percentage = (triceps + subscapular + suprailiac + abdominal skin × 0.153) + 5.783.…”

“…According to some studies, firefighters' health is not as good as it ought to be, possibly because of the lack of proper training [17,18]. A perception error of over-rating V O2 max could result in an inability to meet the physical demands of rescue groups [19,20,21].…”

“…According to Clark, Rene, Theurer, et al, these parameters are useful especially for firefighters [21]. Moreover, Soteriades, Hauser, Kawachi, et al stated that neglecting training could cause an increase in BMI, which can later pose a risk to the health of members of rescue groups [22].…”

Comparison of body mass index with waist circumference and skinfold-based percent body fat in firefighters: adiposity classification and associations with cardiovascular disease risk factors

“…Although body mass index (BMI) has been the most widely used adiposity measure at wellness and fitness (WEFIT) programs for firefighters across the nation (Clark et al 2002;Donovan et al 2009;Soteriades et al 2005;Tsismenakis et al 2009) as for other occupational groups (Alasagheirin et al 2011;Caban et al 2005;Escoto et al 2010;Sieber et al 2014), there has been a strong skepticism as to whether BMI is a valid measure for adiposity among firefighters (Choi et al 2011;Haddock et al 2011;Jitnarin et al 2013;Poston et al 2011) because of selfselection into the occupation and the possibility of building musculature through on-the-job physical training. Two assumptions underlying firefighter skepticism are: (1) BMI may overestimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among firefighters because of its intrinsic inability to differentiate fat body mass and lean body mass and (2) other anthropometric adiposity measures such as waist circumference and skinfold-based percent body fat may be more strongly associated with biological CVD risk factors among firefighters than BMI (Choi et al 2011).…”