title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Bedford, TX, USA. seclarkdomph@earthlink.net
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rene
authors.forename: Wesley M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Theurer
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000032:analysis; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000032:analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005390:Fires / Q000517:prevention & control; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D009790:Occupations; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011336:Probability; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014481:United States; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL