Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters

Objective: This study describes the development of the world’s first suite of firefighter body composition centile reference curves which can be used as both academic research tools and clinical references, to plot and track individual firefighter skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and fat mass (FM) measur...

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Main Authors: Lessons, Greg Richard, Bhakta, Dee, McCarthy, H. David
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/7048/2/Development%20of%20muscle%20mass%20and%20body%20fat%20reference%20curves%20for%20white%20male%20UK%20firefighters%20PDF.pdf
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author Lessons, Greg Richard
Bhakta, Dee
McCarthy, H. David
author_facet Lessons, Greg Richard
Bhakta, Dee
McCarthy, H. David
author_sort Lessons, Greg Richard
collection LMU
description Objective: This study describes the development of the world’s first suite of firefighter body composition centile reference curves which can be used as both academic research tools and clinical references, to plot and track individual firefighter skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and fat mass (FM) measurements against the representative reference sample. Methods: The body composition of 497 white male London (England) firefighters was measured by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Smoothed centile curves were then generated for skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), fat mass index (FMI), body fat percentage (BF%) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Results: Between 48 and 62 years, firefighter SMMI is greater than the UK white male age-matched general population by a mean of 0.35 units, although SMMI declines 0.006 units/years faster in firefighters between these ages. This is estimated to translate to a mean decline of approximately 0.6% of absolute SMM per year. Between 40 and 49 years, firefighter FMI is 0.1 units greater than the UK white male age-matched general population, which becomes identical (7 units) between 50 and 54 years. At the 50th centile, WHtR exceeds 0.5 by 39 years reaching 0.55 at 62 years. This contrasts with FMI which remains stable from 47 years. Conclusion: Firefighters in this study possess greater FM and SMM compared with the UK general population. SMM appears to decline rapidly within older age ranges. These references offer a novel improvement upon the limitations of BMI and BF% for the benefit of an occupational group at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease.
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spelling oai:repository.londonmet.ac.uk:70482023-03-01T12:53:27Z http://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/7048/ Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters Lessons, Greg Richard Bhakta, Dee McCarthy, H. David 610 Medicine & health Objective: This study describes the development of the world’s first suite of firefighter body composition centile reference curves which can be used as both academic research tools and clinical references, to plot and track individual firefighter skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and fat mass (FM) measurements against the representative reference sample. Methods: The body composition of 497 white male London (England) firefighters was measured by anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Smoothed centile curves were then generated for skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI), fat mass index (FMI), body fat percentage (BF%) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Results: Between 48 and 62 years, firefighter SMMI is greater than the UK white male age-matched general population by a mean of 0.35 units, although SMMI declines 0.006 units/years faster in firefighters between these ages. This is estimated to translate to a mean decline of approximately 0.6% of absolute SMM per year. Between 40 and 49 years, firefighter FMI is 0.1 units greater than the UK white male age-matched general population, which becomes identical (7 units) between 50 and 54 years. At the 50th centile, WHtR exceeds 0.5 by 39 years reaching 0.55 at 62 years. This contrasts with FMI which remains stable from 47 years. Conclusion: Firefighters in this study possess greater FM and SMM compared with the UK general population. SMM appears to decline rapidly within older age ranges. These references offer a novel improvement upon the limitations of BMI and BF% for the benefit of an occupational group at elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. Springer 2022 Article PeerReviewed text en https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/7048/2/Development%20of%20muscle%20mass%20and%20body%20fat%20reference%20curves%20for%20white%20male%20UK%20firefighters%20PDF.pdf Lessons, Greg Richard, Bhakta, Dee and McCarthy, H. David (2022) Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 95. pp. 779-790. ISSN 0340-0131 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01761-4 10.1007/s00420-021-01761-4
spellingShingle 610 Medicine & health
Lessons, Greg Richard
Bhakta, Dee
McCarthy, H. David
Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters
title Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters
title_full Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters
title_fullStr Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters
title_full_unstemmed Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters
title_short Development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male UK firefighters
title_sort development of muscle mass and body fat reference curves for white male uk firefighters
topic 610 Medicine & health
url https://repository.londonmet.ac.uk/7048/2/Development%20of%20muscle%20mass%20and%20body%20fat%20reference%20curves%20for%20white%20male%20UK%20firefighters%20PDF.pdf
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