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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX AND HEALTH VARIABLES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

AN Fail

Abstract

Alyssa N. Fail. Georgia Southern, Statesboro, GA.

BACKGROUND: In law enforcement officers (LEO), lifestyle factors such as long and sedentary shift work, irregular sleep habits, stressful work settings, and poor eating habits increase risk for excess body fat. Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, which is the leading cause of death in LEO. We investigated the relationship between body composition and cardiometabolic health among southeastern sheriffs LEOs. METHODS: A total of 55 sworn LEO (41.8 ± 11.1 years) reported to the testing facility during the morning following a 12-hour fast. Participants had their height and body mass measured via a stadiometer and calibrated digital scale, respectively, and body mass index (BMI) was derived. After 10 minutes of seated rest, resting heart rate (RHR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed via an oscillometric brachial cuff. Blood lipids and glucose were measured in a fingerstick blood sample using a commercially available point-of-care device. Pearson’s correlations were used to determine the relations between BMI and cardiometabolic (RHR, SBP, DBP, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and blood glucose (BG)) variables (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Significant, positive, moderate correlations existed between BMI and SBP (r = 0.66,p < 0.01), DBP (r = 0.47, p < 0.01), and TG (r = 0.40, p = 0.01). A significant, positive, weak correlation was noted between BMI and BG (r = 0.36, p =0.02). No significant correlation existed between BMI and RHR (r = 0.22, p = 0.11), TC (r = 0.13, p = 0.42), LDL (r = -0.01, p =0.95), or HDL (r = -0.25, p = 0.12). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated a positive association between BMI and cardiometabolic risk factors in LEO. These findings suggest that LEO should be mindful of BMI and should attempt to take actions to mitigate increases in body fat linked to job-related duties.

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