FIREFIGHTERS AND OBESITY

Obesity, an excess of body fat, has been recognized as a serious public health issue in the general population and among workers in the United States (US) since the 1980s [Ford et al., 2003; Caban et al., 2005; Ogden et al., 2007]. Obesity has been well documented as a key risk factor for a wide range of chronic diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, osteoarthritis, dyslipidemia, Type II diabetes, some cancers as well as increased mortality [NIH,1998; Flegal et al., 2005]. 3 out of 10 adults in the US are obese.

Between 1986 and 2002 the prevalence of obesity in the US working population increased by almost 10% [Caban et al., 2005]. However, average obesity prevalence rates and corresponding trends varied considerably across occupational groups. Among 41 male-dominated occupations, firefighters have the third highest prevalence rate of obesity. Few studies have examined the roles of working conditions and health behaviors in obesity of firefighters.