BMI Category Mobility and Changes in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Career Firefighters: A 6-Year Cohort Study
Steve T. Guillory, Luz S. Marín, Wanda MinnickObjective:
To characterize BMI category mobility among male career firefighters over 6 years and examine associations between baseline BMI category and odds of exceeding CVD risk thresholds.
Methods:
A cohort of 613 male career firefighters (2013–2018) undergoing annual fitness-for-duty exams was followed. Linear mixed-effects models tested changes in BMI, body fat %, and CVD risk factors. A cumulative-link mixed-effects model tested BMI category change. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios for CVD risk thresholds at baseline and Year 5.
Results:
At baseline, 12%, 47%, and 40% of firefighters were healthy-weight, overweight, and obesity category, respectively. BMI category changed significantly from baseline to Year 5, and within healthy weight and overweight categories.
Conclusion:
Upward BMI mobility occurred across weight categories; the obesity category showed no reversals, supporting CVD surveillance from career entry regardless of baseline weight.