Efficacy of a Health Promotion Guidance Program Applied to the Police of São Paulo City

Abstract

: The health promotion efficacy of a dietary regimen and physical activity guidance program applied to the Sao Paulo state military ppre-obese policemen exhibitedolice working in Sao Paulo city was investigated. The guidance program consisted of the delivery of a 10-minute talk on healthy nutritional habits and the beneficial effects of a regular physical activity practice for each volunteer personally. The physical fitness parameters related to the health of the volunteers were evaluated before and eight weeks after the interventional program. The study included 58 policemen working in Sao Paulo city, aged 34.9 ± 0.8 years (mean ± SEM). The application of the guidance program could decrease body fat percentage (BFP) (by 5.7%), abdominal circumference (ABC) (by 1.1%), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (by 2.4%), and increase flexibility (FLEX) (by 8.8%) and abdominal resistance (ABR) (by 5.2%). A change in physical activity behavior was also reported. Increases in the number of volunteers in very active (VA) (3.45%), active (ACT) (10.35%), and irregular active A (IRA) (5.17%) groups, and reductions in irregular active B (IRB) (13.79%) and sedentary (SED) (5.17%) groups were found. The policemen were classified (before-after) as obese (29.3% - 24.1%) and pre-obese (39.7% - 43.1%). Foty-three percent of pre-obese policemen exhibited more daily physical activity after the guidance program implementation. The guidance program was effective in increasing the adherence of pre-obese policemen to the physical activity practice, reduced the percentage of body fat and abdominal circumference, and improved lower limbs flexibility and abdominal muscle resistance.