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.
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: Austin L Brown; Walker S C Poston; Sara A Jahnke; C Keith Haddock; Sheng Luo; George L Delclos; R Sue Day Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2015-06-30 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Austin L Brown; Walker S C Poston; Sara A Jahnke; C Keith Haddock; Sheng Luo; George L Delclos; R Sue Day Journal: Int J Occup Environ Health Date: 2016-07-28
Authors: Walker S C Poston; Christopher K Haddock; Sara A Jahnke; Nattinee Jitnarin; R Sue Day Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-09-05 Impact factor: 3.295
Authors: Michelle Lynn Wilkinson; Austin Lane Brown; Walker Seward Carlos Poston; Christopher Keith Haddock; Sara Anne Jahnke; Rena Sue Day Journal: Prev Chronic Dis Date: 2014-07-10 Impact factor: 2.830