Put Down the Donuts

It is fairly obvious that law enforcement officers need to be physically fit in order to carry out their duties to the best of their ability. An overweight officer can endanger society, suspects, as well as themselves. Obese officers also pose as liability risks for any law enforcement department. Plus, let's face it, they present a bad public image.

The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity is the #2 cause of preventable death in the United States; smoking is #1. But the race is getting closer. About 66% of U.S. adults age 20 or older are overweight: 62% of women and around 71% of men. Nearly one-third of American adults (60 million people) are so overweight that they are considered obese, meaning they have a BMI greater than 30: 33% of women and 30% of men. Nine million children and teens ages 6-19 are overweight. Americans spend more than $33 billion a year on weight-loss products and services. However, the economic cost of obesity in the United States was about $117 billion in 2000.

Being overweight or obese dramatically increases the risk of health conditions and diseases including: coronary artery disease, cardiac arrest, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, colon and breast cancer.

Message from the Previous Surgeon General: Law Enforcement Obesity

In March 2003 previous Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, addressed the National Sheriff's Association about his concerns related to obesity. Carmona said that "being overweight or obese directly impacts job performance when you're trying to defend the public safety. Remember, when you are called upon, you must be ready to back up your partner or a citizen. To me, failing at this calling when challenged would be a fate worse than death." Carmona was previously a full time police officer. "After we got rid of the physical standards," Carmona said, "It was problematic for most of us because I saw many of my peers who didn't do the exercise that they needed to. They didn't stay in physical condition to be out on the streets. And the risk that you entertain is not only for yourself and being not prepared to respond to that worst-case scenario call, but also the potential harm that you put your fellow officers in because you're not physically able to respond appropriately."

Calculating Obesity

The generally accepted standard to measure whether a person is obese or overweight is by using the Body Mass Index, more commonly known as the BMI. Note: Using BMI for athletes can overestimate their level of body fat because muscle is denser than fat and weighs more. There are a number of different ways to measure body fatness. There is a formula for this: divide your weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiply by a conversion factor of 703. There is an easier way: the BMI calculator. (linked below)

Normal weight consists of BMI in the range of 18.5 to 24.9. If your BMI is under 18.5, you are considered underweight. If your BMI is between 25.0 and 29.9 you are considered overweight. A BMI between 30.0 and 34.9 indicates obesity. Severe obesity is determined if the BMI is between 35 and 39.9. If your BMI is over 40, you are morbidly obese.

These calculations would translate to a six foot tall male police officer having just reached the slightly overweight category at 185 pounds. Upon reaching 225 pounds he would be considered obese.

Why Officers are at Risk for Overeating

Patrol officers frequently have to wolf down their food to complete a meal without being interrupted by a call for service. This does not allow them time to feel full before the plate is clean. If an officer works the second or third watch he or she may have very limited choices on where to purchase food when they feel hungry. Let's face it Circle K, gas stations or the 7-11 primarily offer a feast of sugar and fat. Food can be as comforting for an overeater as a beer is for a drinker. Most overeaters eat to fill a void or deal with stress: from a dispatch call, a demanding supervisor, or personal problems.