Smee Disa J, Walker Anthony, Rattray Ben, Cooke Julie A, Serpell Ben G, Pumpa Kate L
1 University of Canberra.
2 Australian Capital Territory Fire & Rescue.
Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019 May 1;29(3):282-288. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0040. Epub 2018 Oct 25.
Given the importance of body composition in maintaining optimal physical and functional capacities, the use of appropriate, field-based assessment tools should be a priority to assist in maintaining the occupational safety of firefighters and the community. For ease, body mass index has often been used to assess these changes. However, it is limited in its accuracy. The purposes of this study were twofold: (a) to compare the validity of different measures of body composition against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in urban firefighters and (b) to assess these measures in their ability to provide meaningful interpretation of criteria-driven categories of adiposity. A total of 64 male firefighters (age = 44.0 ± 9.5 years) underwent full anthropometric profiling (predictor equations used to determine body fat percentage [BF%]), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and DXA assessments. Participants' body mass index was calculated, and BF% and lean mass were determined along with criteria-driven categorizations of adiposity. Anthropometric (skinfolds) predictor equations (e.g., mean bias = -4.4% for BF%) were typically closer to DXA measures, compared with BIA (9.4% for BF%). However, when determining categories of criteria-driven adiposity, BIA (42.9% overweight or obese) provided closer estimates to the DXA-determined distribution (44.6%) than anthropometric-based measures (up to 40%). Body mass index appears an inappropriate measure for accurately determining categories of adiposity with 64.1% classified as overweight or obese. Given the logistical constraints of anthropometric profiling, and the closeness of BIA to DXA in adiposity categories, BIA may be a suitable alternative to DXA for assessing body composition in professional urban firefighters.
鉴于身体成分对于维持最佳身体和功能能力的重要性，使用合适的、基于现场的评估工具应成为优先事项，以协助维护消防员和社区的职业安全。为方便起见，体重指数常被用于评估这些变化。然而，其准确性有限。本研究的目的有两个：（a）比较城市消防员中不同身体成分测量方法与双能X射线吸收法（DXA）的有效性；（b）评估这些测量方法对基于标准的肥胖类别进行有意义解释的能力。共有64名男性消防员（年龄=44.0±9.5岁）接受了全面的人体测量分析（使用预测方程确定体脂百分比[BF%]）、生物电阻抗分析（BIA）和DXA评估。计算了参与者的体重指数，并确定了BF%和瘦体重以及基于标准的肥胖分类。与BIA（BF%为9.4%）相比，人体测量（皮褶厚度）预测方程（例如，BF%的平均偏差=-4.4%）通常更接近DXA测量值。然而，在确定基于标准的肥胖类别时，BIA（42.9%超重或肥胖）比基于人体测量的方法（高达40%）提供了更接近DXA确定分布（44.6%）的估计值。体重指数似乎不是准确确定肥胖类别的合适指标，有64.1%的人被归类为超重或肥胖。鉴于人体测量分析的后勤限制，以及BIA在肥胖类别方面与DXA的接近程度，BIA可能是DXA的合适替代方法，用于评估职业城市消防员的身体成分。
