Fat Firefighters

From 60 Second Science:

Think firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are in tip-top shape? Not necessarily, according to a new study published today in the journal Obesity. Researchers found that 77 percent of emergency responder recruits in Boston are either overweight or obese, a result they say is likely similar in other cities and towns.

"Both firefighters and EMTs have pretty significant risks of cardiovascular events [such as heart attacks] as a result of the physical demands of the job…They are also at risk for musculoskeletal injuries," says study co-author Antonios Tsismenakis, a medical student at Boston University School of Medicine. Carrying additional pounds magnifies these risks, he adds. "If an emergency responder goes down," he says, "that has potential implications for his or her colleagues, and for you and me." Read more...