Nutritional Assessment Among Police Officers in Chennai

The police are the primary law enforcement agency experience greater amounts of anxiety and stress than people in other occupations most of the time. The current study aims at assessing the nutritional status among the police officers. The study includes 50 samples of age ranging between 35 - 60 years both the male and female officers were included. The data was collected using a questionnaire, which includes information on demographic data, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI, MUAC, WHR), biochemical parameters (Hb, random blood glucose level, serum cholesterol), nutritional knowledge, physical activity, Standards of life, dietary habits, food frequency and 24 hr dietary recall. The present study suggests that weight, WHR and Hb levels and 24 - hr dietary intake of most of the officers were significant to nutritional risk. The possible reasons include inadequate physical activity and lifestyle behaviors, poor dietary awareness and poor dietary practices. Thus, the study suggests that initiative should be taken to improve the nutritional status in order to reduce or prevent the occurrence of nutritional problems. Periodic nutritional assessment and nutritional educational program (includes monthly group discussion on the concepts of proper nutritional behavior & physical activity), fitness evaluation and at least weekly one - hour physical activity program by a trained instructors being an effective measure to improve the nutritional health status, alleviate stress and increase the work productivity.