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Table 1 Health domains of female firefighters compared to published data on male firefighters

From: The health of women in the US fire service

 

Career, Female

Career, Male*

Volunteer, Female

Volunteer, Male*

N=18

N=478

N=13

N=199

Demographics

Age M (SD)

33.1 yrs (8.9 yrs)

38.2 yrs (9.9 yrs)

34.2 yrs (11.1 yrs)

39.7 yrs (12 yrs)

% White

88.9%

86.4%

92.3%

97.5%

Some College or College Grad

94.4%

82.4%

92.3%

61.8%

% Married/Partnered

33.4%

72.6%

69.2%

75.4%

Body Composition

Body Mass IndexŦ

    

Underweight

0.0%

NR

0.0%

NR

Normal

66.7%

NR

53.8%

NR

Overweight

16.7%

46.0%

30.8%

35.2%

Obese

16.7%

33.5%

15.4%

43.2%

Waist Circumference High Risk

17.6%

30.5%

38.5%

45.2%

Body Fat¥

    

Athletic

11.1%

NR

7.7%

NR

Fitness

16.7%

NR

0.0%

NR

Acceptable

33.3%

NR

46.2%

NR

Obese

38.9%

47.7%

46.2%

54.3%

Fitness

Met 12 Metabolic Equivalents (METs)

22.2%

38.7%

7.7%

23.6%

Tobacco Use **

Current Smoker

22.2%

13.6%

15.4%

17.4%

Current Smokeless

11.1%

18.4%

0.0%

16.8%

  1. *Data from Poston et al. 2011, NR = not reported.
  2. **Data from Haddock et al. 2011.
  3. Ŧ underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), healthy weight (range, 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (range, 25.0–29.9 kg/m2), or obese (≥30.0 kg/m2).
  4. ¥ athletic (14-20%), fitness (21-24%), acceptable (25-30%), obese (30% or more).