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Published on: June 9, 2023
Adiposity predicts self-reported frequency of poor health days among male firefighters
Austin L Brown1, Michelle L Wilkinson, Walker S C Poston
1From the Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences (Mr Brown, Ms Wilkinson, Dr Day), University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston; and Institute for Biobehavioral Health Research (Drs Poston, Haddock, and Jahnke), National Development and Research Institutes, Leawood, KS.
Objective:
Quantify the association between adiposity and frequency of self-reported poor health days among male firefighters.
Methods:
Measures were taken for body mass index, waist circumference, and percentage of body fat. Firefighters self-reported the outcome of the number of poor health days in the past 30 days. Zero-inflated negative binomial models and fractional polynomial plots were used to determine the impact of adiposity on the frequency of self-reported poor health days.
Results:
Body mass index (rate ratio [RR]: 1.037; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.003 to 1.073), waist circumference (RR: 1.012; 95% CI: 0.999 to 1.030), and percentage of body fat (RR: 1.021; 95% CI: 0.999 to 1.041) were associated with self-reported poor health days.
Conclusions:
Adiposity is positively associated with frequency of self-reported poor health days among male firefighters. Future efforts to improve health among firefighters should emphasize reductions in adiposity.
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