By Jeannine Stein
The Los Angeles Times
BOSTON — Given the current state of obesity in the U.S., it shouldn’t be that surprising that the ranks of the overweight are filtering into every niche — even prospective emergency responders.
A new study found that young people applying for emergency responder jobs such as firefighters and emergency medical technicians may not be as lean and in shape as they should be. The study, published online recently in the journal Obesity, looked at health statistics of 370 people, average age 26, who applied for firefighter and ambulance service jobs in Massachusetts from 2004 to 2007.
Among the findings, 0.8% were underweight, 22.4% were normal weight, 43.8% were overweight, and 33% were obese. All normal-weight applicants were able to meet the minimum exercise requirement of 12 METS, or metabolic equivalents, a standard measurement that determines how much oxygen the body uses when it’s active (moderate activity burns about three to six METS).
Full Story: Obesity contribute to significant causes of death among responders