Evaluation of Health Status of Fishers: Prediction of Cardiovascular Fitness and Anaerobic Power

Abstract

It is assumed that physically demanding jobs may have a positive influence on the physical parameters of workers. Thus the present study was designed to evaluate the influence of fishery, such an physically demanding occupation on physical fitness and to compare whether fishermen have more cardiovascular fitness, anaerobic power than sedentary population or not. The study was carried out among randomly selected fishermen of coastal, West Bengal (mean age 22.4). A significant difference (p < 0.05) in Blood pressure, PFI, Energy expenditure, body fat% and anaerobic power was found in fishermen. But, in contrast, BSA, BMI, resting heart rate, V.O2 max, upper arm circumference and thigh and calf circumferences were found to be non-significant. This study infers fishermen have more physical fitness (cardiovascular fitness) and muscle mass, but less fat percentage than sedentary population. But with physical strength and cardiovascular fitness more endurance is required for better health of young fishermen.