Factors Associated With Physical Activity Levels Among Brazilian Military Law Enforcement Officers
<b>Background:</b> There is limited understanding of the factors associated with law enforcement officers' (LEOs') physical activity levels (PALs) in Latin America. This study aims to address this gap in knowledge. <b>Methods:</b> We analyzed data from a cross-sectional survey among military LEOs from a northern Brazilian state. An anonymous questionnaire, which assessed participants' PAL using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires and quality of life (QoL) using the WHOQOL-BREF, was distributed to LEOs. We examined factors associated with PAL with the use of multiple linear regression models. <b>Results:</b> There were a total of 418 participants (38.6± 6.6 years old, 88.3% male). After adjusting for age, sex, role, rank, education, and QoL domains, each unit increase in body mass index (BMI) and the environmental QoL domain were associated with a mean decrease of 56.2 MET-min/week and an increase of 12.8 MET-min/week in PAL, respectively (both <i>P</i> < 0.05). Additionally, those with a college education or higher had a mean PAL increase of 381.1 MET-min/week compared to their counterparts (<i>P</i> = 0.005). <b>Conclusions</b>: Lower BMI, higher education, and improved environmental QoL are associated with increased PAL among Brazilian military LEOs. Our findings are consistent with existing literature.
Authors
- Edgard de Melo Keene Von Koenig Soares (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3696-9556)
- Guilherme Eckhardt Molina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5937-079X)
- Daniel Rodrigues Ferreira Saint-Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6539-486X)
- Stefanos N. Kales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7712-4664)
- Welere Gomes Barbosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8220-7421)
- Luiz Guilherme Grossi Porto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6240-1614)
- Fan‐Yun Lan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5167-3975)
- Costas A. Christophi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0503-1538)
Institutions
- Cambridge Health Alliance (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (TW)
- Universidade de Brasília (BR)
- Cyprus University of Technology (CY)
- Skidmore College (US)
- National Yang Ming University Hospital (TW)
- Universidade do Tocantins (BR)
- Hospital Central da Polícia Militar (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
- Published
- 2025-09-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276251379843
- Primary Topic
- Occupational Health and Performance
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00