Obesity in the fire service: An inside look at the perceptions of firefighters towards obesity and other health issues

Abstract Background Despite being an extremely physically demanding job, there exists a high prevalence of obesity for members of the fire service nationally based on recent studies. The fire service has a unique culture and environment that likely influences behaviors and attitudes among the members, and in turn impacts their health.Objectives Based on previous research we hypothesized that cultural and structural aspects of the fire service contribute to the rise in obesity among its members. The primary aims of this research project were: (1) to determine the current extent, or prevalence, of obesity among members of a large eastern US fire department (“X Fire Department”), and (2) to elucidate aspects of the physical and cultural environment that may contribute to obesity risk among members (specifically, diet, exercise, and sleep). Methods This two-phase, mixed-methods study involved conducting qualitative interviews with (n=17) members of the X Fire Department (Phase I) and collecting online questionnaire data (n=120) from a broader department-wide sample of 1,400 active members.Results The data gathered in Phase II indicated that out of the (n=120) members that participated in the study the average BMI was 29 with approximately 40% of the respondents falling into the category of obese. The data indicated that while overall diet and exercise has improved in the department in recent years there are still factors impacting the diet, exercise, and sleep levels of the members that contribute to risk for obesity and other adverse health conditions.Conclusion There are factors in the X Fire Department that are negatively impacting the members’ ability to eat, exercise, and sleep properly, which in turn we believe is directly attributable to the high percentage of obesity in our study. Our hope is that this research will highlight the areas that require immediate action and to add to existing research in order to instill in a change in other fire departments nationally.