title: The impact of surveillance on weight change and predictors of change in a population-based firefighter cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document weight changes in a population-based cohort of male career firefighters and evaluate the impact of health surveillance on subsequent participant behavior and body composition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage were assessed longitudinally in 311 male firefighters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Firefighters who reported making no changes after the baseline assessment (42.1%) experienced a 0.64 ± 3.1 kg average weight gain, whereas firefighters who reported making one or more health behavior change (ie, changing their diet, increasing their physical activity, or both; 52.1%) lost an average of -1.3 kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular health surveillance may motivate some firefighters to make health behavior changes. Although it is not currently the norm, fire departments should provide firefighters with annual health assessments including body composition and fitness measures, consistent with those recommended by the fire service's Wellness and Fitness Initiative.
authors: Center for Fire Rescue and EMS Health Research, Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, Leawood, KS 66224, USA. carlosposton@hopehri.com
authors: Walker S C
authors: WS
authors: Poston
authors: Nattinee
authors: N
authors: Jitnarin
authors: C Keith
authors: CK
authors: Haddock
authors: Sara A
authors: SA
authors: Jahnke
authors: Brianne C
authors: BC
authors: Tuley
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D015992:Body Mass Index; D061388:Firefighters / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055105:Waist Circumference; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss