A study showed that nearly all of recent Boston firefighting recruits were either overweight or obese.

And, of those who were classified as obese, nearly half failed the required treadmill test. Ordinarily, this probably wouldn’t make news, as it’s well documented how slovenly American society has become.

But, because firefighters do serve a public safety function, it should be noted that they “depended on one another in emergencies and that a condition incapacitating one could jeopardize the lives of others and the community at large.”

Should firefighters, and other EMS responders for that matter, be subject to fitness requirements? Perhaps, but if that were the case, I suspect many of them may be left without a job.