The obesity epidemic and future emergency responders.

Emergency responders should be fit to safely perform strenuous duties. In particular, young recruits are expected to be at or near peak career fitness. We studied the prevalence and health associations of excess weight among 370 consecutive emergency responder candidates for fire and ambulance services in Massachusetts. The mean age and BMI of the recruits were 26.3 (3.8) years and 28.5 (4.9) kg/m(2), respectively. Seventy-seven percent had BMI >or=25 kg/m(2), and 33% were obese (BMI >or=30 kg/m(2)). After multivariate adjustment, both higher BMI categories and unit increases in BMI were significantly associated with higher blood pressures, worse metabolic profiles, and lower exercise tolerance. Excess weight is highly prevalent and associated with elevated cardiovascular risk among future emergency responders. These findings in a population expected to perform demanding duties supporting public safety merit prompt public health intervention.