Pakistan Journal of Nutrition1680-51941994-7984Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjn.2017.77.83RahimiNor Atiqah SedekRazalee TehArnida Hani HarunMohd. Sani 22017162Background and Objective: The complexity of study routine and job nature of firefighters require them to be physically fit and to possess
good cardiorespiratory capacity, muscle strength and resistance including a good body composition. This study aimed to
identify the relationship between body composition and physical fitness of rescue firefighter personnel in Selangor, Malaysia.
Materials and Methods: A total of 230 male firefighters aged 20-39 years from 9 randomly selected districts in Selangor participated in
this study. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, body composition and waist circumference were taken. Individual
proficiency performance test was performed using bent knee sit-up, standing broad jump, pull-up, 4×10 m shuttle run and 2.4 km run
to assess physical fitness. The VO2 max test was also conducted to evaluate aerobic fitness. Results: This study revealed that 42.6% subjects
had normal body weight, 46.5% were overweight and 10.3% were obese. The means of bent knee sit-up test, standing broad jump, pull-up
test, 4×10 m shuttle run, 2.4 km run and VO2 max test were 41.52±7.18 count, 222.41±26.03 cm, 6.93±3.79 count, 10.29±0.86 sec,
13.16±2.84 min and 37.66±5.25 mL kg1 min1, respectively. Body fat was significantly correlated with bent knee sit-up test (r = -0.289,
p<0.001), standing broad jump (r = -0.248, p<0.001), pull-up test (r = -0.450, p<0.001), 4×10 km shuttle run (r = 0.347, p<0.001) and
2.4 km run (r = 0.371, p<0.001). Body mass index exhibited a significant correlation with bent knee sit-up test (r = -0.272, p<0.001),
standing broad jump (r = -0.234, p<0.001), pull-up test (r = -0.484, p<0.001), 4×10 km shuttle run (r = 0.430, p<0.001) and 2.4 km run
(r = 0.399, p<0.001). Body weight also showed a significant correlation with knee sit-up test (r = -0.239, p<0.001), standing broad jump
(r = -0.187, p<0.01), pull-up test (r = -0.491, p<0.001), 4×10 km shuttle run (r = 0.396, p<0.001) and 2.4 km run (r = 0.350, p<0.001).
Conclusion: A specific training programme should be implemented to improve the body composition components and physical fitness
among Malaysian firefighters. The body composition components, such as body fat, body mass index and body weight seem to influence
physical fitness among Malaysian firefighters excluding aerobic fitness.]]>Atikah, C.W., M. Nihayah, J.H. Leonard, B. Omar and M.S.N. Ibrahim et al.,20154414611466Schmidt, C. and A. Mckune,2012244457Peterson, M.D., D.J. Dodd, B.A. Alvar, M.R. Rhea and M. Favre,20082216831695Sell, K.,201012112Rhea, M.R., B.A. Alvar and R. Gray,200418348352Kiss, P., M. de Meester, C. Maes, S. de Vriese, A. Kruse and L. Braeckman,201464589594Smith, D.L.,201110167172Poston, W.S.C., C.K. Haddock, S.A. Jahnke, N. Jitharin, B.C. Tuley and S.N. Kales,201153266273Boyce, R.W., S. Ciulla, G.R. Jones, E.L. Boone, S.M. Elliott and C.S. Combs,20081125135Mayer, J.M., J.L. Nuzzo, R. Chen, W.S. Quillen, J.L. Verna, R. Miro and S. Dagenais,20122012Nogueira, E.C., L.G.G. Porto, R.M. Nogueira, W.R. Martins, R.M.C. Fonseca, C.C. Lunardi and R.J. de Oliveira,2016303338Smith, D.L., P.C. Fehling, A. Frisch, J.M. Haller, M. Winke and M.W. Dailey,20122012Sedek, R., P.B. Koon and I.M. Noor,20102010Nadiy, I., S. Razalee, M.K. Zalifah and M.J. Zulkeffeli,20131571660668Baur, D.M., C.A. Christophi, A.J. Tsismenakis, E.F. Cook and S.N. Kales,20115311551160Durand, G., A.J. Tsismenakis, S.A. Jahnke, D.M. Baur, C.A. Christophi and S.N. Kales,20114317521759Michaelides, M.A., K.M. Parpa, L.J. Henry, G.B. Thompson and B.S. Brown,201125956965Poplin, G.S., D.J. Roe, J.L. Burgess, W.F. Peate and R.B. Harris,201689251259Caspersen, C.J., K.E. Powell and G.M. Christenson,1985100126131William-Bell, F.M., R. Villar, M.T. Sharratt and R.L. Hughson,200941653662Fire and Rescue Department,20142014Leger, L.A., D. Mercier, C. Gadoury and J. Lambert,1988693101Brewer, J., R. Ramsbottom and C. Williams,19881988Cooper, K.H.,1977Sedek, R., P.B. Koon and I.M. Noor,20122012WHO., IASO. and IOTF.,20002000Soteriades, E.S., R. Hauser, I. Kawachi, D.C. Christiani and S.N. Kales,200858245250WHO.,20042004Wyss, T., B. Marti, S. Rossi, U. Kohler and U. Mader,20075126131Kassim, M.B. and R.S. Mokhtar,2016101116Myers, J., M. Prakash, V. Froelicher, D. Do, S. Partington and J.E. Atwood,2002346793801Brown, J. and J. Stickford,20092009Sothmann, M.S., K.W. Saupe, D. Jasenof, J. Blaney and S.D. Fuhrman et al.,19903217236Gledhill, N. and V.K. Jamnik,199217207213Malley, K.S., A.M. Goldstein, T.K. Aldrich, K.J. Kelly and M. Weiden et al.,19994111041115Blair, S.N., H.W. Kohl III, R.S. Paffenbarger, Jr., D.G. Clark, K.H. Cooper and L.W. Gibbons,198926223942401Calavalle, A.R., D. Sisti, G. Mennelli, G. Andolina and M. del Sal et al.,201327769775Sheaff, A.K., A. Bennett, E.D. Hanson, Y.S. Kim and J. Hsu et al.,20102431123122