Associations between Psychological Distress and Body Mass Index among Law Enforcement Officers: The National Health Interview Survey 2004-2010.
- Author:
Ja K GU
1
;
Luenda E CHARLES
;
Cecil M BURCHFIEL
;
Michael E ANDREW
;
Claudia MA
;
Ki Moon BANG
;
John M VIOLANTI
Author Information
1. Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA. jgu@cdc.gov
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Psychological distress;
Law enforcement officers;
Adiposity
- MeSH:
Adiposity;
Body Mass Index;
Continental Population Groups;
Female;
Humans;
Jurisprudence;
Law Enforcement;
Male;
Motor Activity;
Obesity;
Police
- From:Safety and Health at Work
2013;4(1):52-62
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between psychological distress and obesity among law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the United States. METHODS: Self-reported data on psychological distress based on six key questions were obtained from LEOs who participated in the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2010). We used Prochaska's cut-point of a Kessler 6 score > or = 5 for moderate/high mental distress in our analysis. Mean levels of body mass index (BMI) were compared across three levels of psychological distress. RESULTS: The average age of LEOs (n = 929) was 39.3 years; 25% were female. Overall, 8.1% of LEOs had moderate or high psychological distress; 37.5% were obese (BMI > or = 30). Mean BMI increased with increasing psychological distress (no distress, BMI = 27.2 kg/m2; mild distress, 27.6 kg/m2; and moderate/high distress, 33.1 kg/m2; p = 0.016) after adjustment for age, race, income, and education level among female officers only. Physical activity modified the association between psychological distress and BMI but only among male LEOs (interaction p = 0.002). Among male LEOs reporting low physical activity, psychological distress was positively associated with BMI (30.3 kg/m2 for no distress, 30.7 for mild distress, 31.8 for moderate/high distress; p = 0.179) after adjustment, but not significantly. This association was not significant among males reporting high physical activity. CONCLUSION: Mean BMI significantly increased as psychological distress increased among female LEOs. A longitudinal study design may reveal the directionality of this association as well as the potential role that physical activity might play in this association.
