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Overweight and obesity in UK firefighters
F Munir1, S Clemes, J Houdmont
1Centre for Global Health and Human Development, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK. f.munir@lboro.ac.uk
Obesity is a concern for UK firefighters, with 65% overweight or obese in 2008. While overweight rates decreased, obesity increased by 2011, highlighting a need for health promotion.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Obesity poses risks to firefighter operational effectiveness.
- Previous studies indicate high rates of overweight and obesity among US firefighters.
- Obesity prevalence among UK firefighters remains unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of obesity in a large UK firefighter cohort.
- To track changes in body mass index (BMI) over a three-year period.
Main Methods:
- Body mass index (BMI) and body composition were measured in 735 male firefighters.
- Data collection occurred in 2008 and was repeated in 2011.
Main Results:
- In 2008, 65% of firefighters were overweight (54%) or obese (11%).
- By 2011, overweight prevalence slightly decreased to 53%, but obesity significantly rose to 13%.
- Firefighters normal weight in 2008 were more likely to gain weight by 2011.
Conclusions:
- UK firefighter overweight/obesity rates are lower than in US studies.
- However, UK firefighters show higher overweight prevalence than the general English population.
- Targeted health promotion interventions are crucial due to obesity's impact on performance.
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