Physical Activity and Nutrition in Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Baker, Dean B. ; Choi B ; Dobson M ; Galassetti P ; Garcia J ; Israel L ; Kim H ; Schnall P
• Description:
  Background: Male firefighters are well known as a high risk occupational group for obesity in the United States (US). However, few studies have examined possible work -related mechanisms that might contribute to their tendency to gain weight. Energy balance can be a major mechanism for obesity in the general population. If a certain group has a higher prevalence of obesity, they are likely to have an imbalance between energy intake and physical activity. So it would be very interesting and important to examine their physical activity level and nutrition characteristics on work days and off days (leisure time) among firefighters. This study presents the pattern of firefighters' physical activity objectively measured with actigraph and nutrition data from food diaries collected on two days (one 24-hr duty day and one 24-hr non-duty day). Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between work-related factors and lower physical activity level on an off day. Methods: As part of the on-going FORWARD study, we analyzed the physical activity and nutrition data of 71 firefighters in a Southern California county Wellness Fitness Program. By using actigraphs, we measured objectively measured physical activity on each of two days (a work day and an off day). We calculated total calorie expenditure from physical activity, total count numbers, the amount of time spent on moderate and vigorous physical activity per day from the actigraph. A food-diary was filled out by each firefighter during one "on" and one "off" duty day. The diaries were analyzed using the Windows-based Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) developed at the University of Minnesota. We used total calorie intake, sodium intake, fiber intake, added sugar, and fat intake (%) from food diaries. We also measured individual firefighter's workloads, number of calls/day, exercise, work stress and other work characteristics from self-reported questionnaires. Results: Average energy expenditure from physical activity on a work day was 718 Kcal and 601 Kcal on an off-day. In 46 of 71 firefighters (64.8%), physical activity level on a work day was higher than that on an off-day. Mean counts per minute (MCPM) was 325.6 and 307.0 on a work-day and an off-day, respectively. During 6 periods of a 24-hr day (every 4 hours), physical activity was the highest from 8am- 12pm (305 Kcal during a workday and 185 Kcal on an off-day, respectively). The amount of time spent on moderate physical activity per day was about 40 minutes on a work day, and 36 minutes on an off-day. These results did not meet the guidelines which the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness Fitness Initiative recommends. The average total calorie intake on a workday was 2,332 Kcal, and 2,346 on an off day. Average energy balance (Energy intake - Energy expenditure) was -731Kcal at work and -565Kcal at home. Total fat intake average was 36.8% and 32.3% and added sugar intake was 65.5g and 58.1g during a work day and off-days, respectively. According to USDA and HHS dietary guidelines for Americans 2010, the daily caloric intake for adult men should range from 2,000Kcal (sedentary) to 3,000Kcal (very active). Calorie intake from fat should be 20-35% and total added sugars lower than 36g. Sodium intake was very high both on a work day and an off day (4,295 and 4, 039 mg, respectively). Fiber intake was very low compared to recommendation from USDA and HHS dietary guidelines for Americans 2010. In a multivariate analysis, higher BMI, old age, short sleep and higher workload were risk factors for lower leisure time physical activity using the actigraphs. Conclusions: Firefighters' physical activity was not low, but they did not meet the guidelines recommended by the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness Fitness Initiative. Firefighter nutrition intake did not meet USDA and HHS dietary guidelines (60 to 90 minutes on every work shift) in considering both quality and quantity. This study suggests that added sugar from sodas/energy drinks and desserts may substantially increase caloric intake during work days. Short sleep and high workloads were major risk factors for lower leisure time physical activity (an off day's physical activity) among firefighters. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Diet Firefighters Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Dietary Effects Fire Fighters Nutrition Obesity Physical Exercise Risk Factors
• Publisher:
  American Psychological Association
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 9
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056217
• Citation:
  Work, Stress, and Health 2013: Protecting and Promoting Total Worker Health(TM), The 10th International Conference on Occupational Stress and Health, May 16-19, 2013, Los Angeles, California. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2013 May; :1-2
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• NORA Priority Area:
  Public Safety
• Performing Organization:
  University of California - Irvine
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20100901
• Source Full Name:
  Work, Stress, and Health 2013: Protecting and Promoting Total Worker Health(TM), The 10th International Conference on Occupational Stress and Health, May 16-19, 2013, Los Angeles, California
• End Date:
  20130831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8f5dabddfb2e82dcecb1d579d98e334a6e1736c9b3fdb06a550e69c9c4d5f1ed7356fcb00a7c16a5724b8a0c5da1169866901d311e1584998aebf6f5fe14b14d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213869/cdc_213869_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 96.75 KB ]