Physical Fitness Similarities and Differences between Police and Firefighter Personnel in a Large Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Charlotte firefighters conduct on-duty physical fitness training, whereas the police do not. These professions have different physical job demands. This could affect their physical fitness. PURPOSE: To compare physical fitness attributes between the police and firefighters in the Charlotte area. METHODS: Current 2006 data was analyzed to compare firefighters and police. Variables included: gender, age, weight, body-fat percentage, fat lbs, lean lbs, upper-body strength (1RM bench press), strength ratio (bench press/lean lbs) and obesity. Obesity is >25% fat for males and >30% fat for females. RESULTS: Significant (p<05) but small differences were found between male police and firefighters in age (36.9±6.7yrs vs. 37.7±8.4yrs), weight (205.5±35.7lbs vs. 201.6±32.7lbs), body-fat percentage (18.5±6.2% vs.17.8±5.7%), fat lbs (39.6±19.6lbs vs. 37.2±17.1lbs), upper-body strength (212.3±46.2lbs vs. 206.0±41.6lbs) and obesity (14% vs. 10%), respectively. No significant differences were found in lean lbs (165.9±20.5lbs vs. 164.4±20.4lbs) and strength ratio (1.3±0.2 vs.1.3±0.2) between male police and firefighters, respectively. Significant differences between the female police and firefighters were found in age (37.4±7.2yrs vs. 42.4±6.4yrs), weight (158.3±32.2lbs vs. 170.8±30.9lbs), lean lbs (112.9±14.3lbs vs. 120.0±16.1lbs), upper-body strength (96.9±20.7lbs vs. 115.3±23.0lbs) and strength ratio (0.9±0.2 vs. 1.0±0.2), respectively. No significant differences were found in body-fat percentage (27.6±7.2% vs. 28.8±8.1%), fat lbs (45.4±20.8lbs vs. 50.8±21.8lbs) and obesity (56% vs. 65%) between female police and firefighters, respectively. Out of all police and firefighter personnel (N=2229), 17% were classified as obese. Of those, 57% of 230 females and 13% of 1999 males were classified as obese. CONCLUSION: Although there are small significant differences, male police are younger, weigh more, have a higher body-fat percentage and fat lbs, are stronger and have more obese personnel than male firefighters. Female police are younger, weigh less, have less lean weight, have less upper body strength and have a lower strength ratio than female firefighters. Overall, there is a considerable difference between the percentage of obese females and obese males.