Adiposity in policing: mental health consequences
John M Violanti1, Desta Fekedulegn, Michael E Andrew
1Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Health Professions, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA. violanti@buffalo.edu
International Journal of Emergency Mental Health
|August 21, 2012
Summary
Higher body mass index and abdominal height are linked to increased depression symptoms in male police officers. This study explored the connection between adiposity and depression in law enforcement personnel.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Adiposity and stress-related depression are significant health concerns for police officers.
- Previous research indicates a link between obesity and depression, but this relationship requires further investigation within the police population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between measures of adiposity and depressive symptoms among police officers.
- To determine if this association differs between male and female officers.
Main Methods:
- A random sample of 115 urban police officers provided data on adiposity (BMI, abdominal height, waist circumference) and depressive symptoms (CES-D scale).
- Data from 99 officers without anti-depressive medication were analyzed using linear regression, adjusting for covariates like age, alcohol use, smoking, marital status, and physical activity.
- Analyses were conducted separately for men and women.
Main Results:
- For male officers, statistically significant positive trends were observed between increasing tertiles of Body Mass Index (BMI) and abdominal height and depression symptom scores.
- No significant associations were found between depressive symptoms and adiposity measures in female officers.
Conclusions:
- Adiposity, specifically higher BMI and abdominal height, is associated with increased depressive symptoms in male police officers.
- Further prospective research is needed to clarify the causal relationship and explore other influencing factors in this population.
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