Physical Activity Behaviors And Metabolic Syndrome Among Law Enforcement Officers

Abstract

There is limited data on objectively measured activity behaviors of law enforcement officers. Due to frequent bouts of on-duty sedentary behavior, this may place them at a greater risk for metabolic syndrome. PURPOSE: To examine the associations between activity behaviors and metabolic syndrome risk among law enforcement officers. METHODS: Eighteen participants aged 33.00 ± 9.03 years participated in the study. Law enforcement officers were asked to wear activity monitoring devices for 7-consecutive days during on-duty and off-duty times. At the end of monitoring period, participants had their metabolic risk factors measured using waist circumference and a finger-prick test after fasting for at least 10 hours prior. Metabolic syndrome was determined if participants had 3 of the 5 following criteria: waist circumference measurement >89 centimeters for women or > 102 centimeters for men; serum triglycerides >150 mg/dL; high-density lipoprotein <50 mg/dL for women and 40 mg/dL for men; blood pressure ≥ 130/≥85 mmHg; and fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL. ActiGraph worn on the wrist measured physical activity behaviors of participants who adhered to wearing the device for at least four days of the 7-consecutive day monitoring period. Descriptive statistics were used to determine means for all metabolic risk factors and to determine time spent in physical activity behaviors (sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous). Correlation analyses were used to examine relationships between various physical activity behaviors and metabolic risk factors. RESULTS: 11.2% (n = 2) had three or more metabolic risk factors and 33.3% (n = 6) had two or more metabolic risk factors. Mean on-duty sedentary activity was 273.35 ± 59.12 minutes compared to off-duty sedentary activity of 401.02 ± 146.35 minutes. Mean on-duty moderate activity was 235.91 ± 40.09 minutes compared to off-duty moderate activity of 304.58 ± 79.80 minutes. There was a negative correlation between on-duty sedentary activity and SBP (r = -.48) and DBP (r = -.48), respectively. There was a positive correlation between off-duty moderate-vigorous activity and waist circumference (r = .62). CONCLUSION: Law enforcement officers have unfavorable physical activity behaviors during a typical day regardless of working status and may be at risk of developing metabolic syndrome.