(29) DO CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK INDICES DIFFER BASED ON BODY MASS INDEX CLASSIFICATION AMONG FIRST RESPONDERS

Purpose: To assess differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk indices among first responders’ body mass index (BMI) classifications. Methods: One hundred and seventy-one male (n=171) first responders were analyzed. Fasted blood samples were collected and analyzed for CVD risk biomarkers. Body composition metrics were taken. A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPXT) was completed. One-minute push-ups, sit-ups, and hand-grip strength assessments were completed. Resting hemodynamics were used to calculate estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV), while waist circumference and height were used to calculate body roundness index (BRI). The first responders were stratified into three BMI groups, including “healthy” (18.5 – 24.9 kg/m²), “overweight” (25.0 – 29.9 kg/m²), and “obese” (≥30.0 kg/m²). Shapiro-Wilk Test assessed for normality. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test (if normality was violated) with Fishers Least Significant Difference or Bonferroni post hoc corrections (respectively) evaluated for differences in CVD risk, fitness, and body composition metrics between BMI groups, where in effect sizes were calculated as eta squared. For comparisons between groups (i.e., healthy versus obese), effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results: Significant differences were noted across BMI classification groups for CPXT time (H=19.486, p< 0.001, η²=0.124), VO_2max values (H=18.527, p< 0.001, η²=0.126), push-ups (F(2,154)=5.033, p=0.008, η²=0.062), hand grip strength (H=6.613, p=0.037, η²=0.025), waist-to-hip ratios (WHR; F(2,156)=4.156, p=0.017, η²=0.051), BRI (H=80.100, p< 0.001, η²=0.193), body fat percentage (BF%; H=47.290, p< 0.001, η²=0.276), fat mass (H=84.981, p< 0.001, η²=0.454), lean mass (H=65.660, p< 0.001, η²=0.358), android (F(2,162)=34.724, p< 0.001, η²=0.300) and gynoid (H=28.122, p< 0.001, η²=0.138) fat percentages, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c; F(2,161)=3.714, p=0.026, η²=0.044), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c; H=14.409, p< 0.001, η²=0.116), triglycerides (TAG; H=11.448, p=0.003, η²=0.052), and blood glucose (F(2,162)=5.498, p=0.005, η²=0.064). In particular, the obese BMI group displayed lower CPXT times (p< 0.001, d=0.932), VO_2max values (p< 0.001, d=1.062), push-ups (p=0.020, d=0.510), and HDL-c (p=0.001, d=0.869), and higher hand grip strength (p=0.047, d=-0.295), WHR (p=0.012, d=-0.640), BRI (p< 0.001, d=-1.007), BF% (p< 0.001, d=-1.454), fat mass (p< 0.001, -1.882), lean mass (p< 0.001, d=-1.769), android (p< 0.001, d=-1.639) and gynoid (p< 0.001, d=-0.966) fat percentage, LDL-c (p=0.011, d=-0.502), TAG (p=0.003, d=-0.625), and blood glucose (p=0.001, d=-0.667) than the healthy BMI group. The overweight group has higher hand grip strength (p=0.047), WHR (p=0.007), BRI (p< 0.001), fat mass (p=0.002), lean mass (p< 0.001), android fat percentage (p< 0.001), LDL-c (p=0.017), and TAG (p=0.019), and lower HDL-c (p=0.003) than the healthy BMI group. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that a higher BMI is associated with more adverse health and poorer fitness profiles than a “healthy” BMI among first responders. This study highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy BMI to support underlying health and fitness. Practical Applications: Practitioners and coaches within first responder departments, agencies, and tactical strength and conditioning specialists should encourage and prioritize programs designed to help improve BMI. Acknowledgements: None