An Examination of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health-related Physical Fitness Profiles of Professional Firefighters.
Journal of occupational and environmental medicine · 2026-03-17 · Observational study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine racial and ethnic disparities in health-related physical fitness among professional firefighters. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of annual physical fitness testing data was conducted from a large fire department. Cross-sectional (n = 1168) and longitudinal (n = 854) cohorts were analyzed. Assessments focused on aerobic capacity, muscular fitness, and body composition. Logistic regression and linear mixed-effect models assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal health-related physical fitness disparities, respectively. RESULTS: Cross-sectional analyses demonstrated after adjusting for all other variables, higher pull-up performance (odds ratio [OR] = 1.11, P < 0.001) and pushup performance (OR = 1.02, P = 0.009) but greater body fat percentage (OR = 1.04, P = 0.002) were associated with being in the minority group. Longitudinal analyses indicated no meaningful disparities in changes in physical fitness over time. CONCLUSIONS: Physical fitness was largely comparable across racial and ethnic groups, suggesting equitable outcomes in this department's wellness program.