Most Belgian firefighters are overweight, study finds

Firefighters in Belgium are getting too fat, new medical data has revealed.

Two thirds (64%) are overweight - with a body mass index between 25 and 30 - according to an annual study of 3,702 firemen and 181 firewomen by the workplace health prevention service Idewe.

Another one in five (19%) have a body mass index over 30 - which is considered obese.

"That is a lot," said Lode Godderis, a workplace health expert at KU Leuven, who says firefighters need more exercise training.

"A good physical condition and a healthy weight are important for the job," he added.

Firefighters are not the only ones getting too large. A recent study found male federal police officers had an average BMI of 26.5, which is above the healthy range.