Associations between Dietary Intake and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in American Career Firefighters: An Observational Study

Firefighters have demanding jobs, requiring high levels of fitness in stressful situations for operational readiness, yet many firefighters are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diet is an important factor contributing to the development of CVD. The purpose of this study was to describe the dietary intake of firefighters and examine the associations between dietary intake and the CVD risk. Forty-six male career firefighters (age = 41.2 +/- 11.2 years; BMI = 29.2 +/- 4.1 kg/m2; body fat = 21.7 +/- 6.1%) enrolled in a fitness-focused wellness program completed a health survey and a fitness assessment. The survey responses and fitness assessment were used to calculate the Framingham CVD Risk Score. Data were analyzed using R, the residual assumptions were verified, and the alpha level was set at 0.05. The results revealed that firefighters consume a standard American diet, with the overconsumption of meat and underconsumption of fruits and vegetables. The average CVD risk approached the upper limit of low risk. The results also indicate that meat servings and preparation fat affect the CVD risk (R2 = 0.21, p = 0.006). The outcomes of this study can inform investigations aimed at improving operational readiness and reducing the CVD risk in firefighters by implementing a holistic approach combining dietary interventions with physical training.