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Operational Police Stress Is Associated With Disordered Eating in Police Officers
1Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|December 14, 2024
Summary
Police officers experience significant disordered eating symptoms, with males reporting more binge eating and females more body dissatisfaction. Operational police stress is linked to disordered eating in both sexes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Occupational Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Police officers face high operational stress, increasing their risk for mental health issues.
- Disordered eating (DE) is under-researched in law enforcement, despite its potential impact.
Purpose of the Study:
- Compare DE symptoms between male and female police officers.
- Examine the link between operational police stress and DE symptoms.
- Investigate body mass index (BMI) and sex as moderators of this association.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 476 police officers in North Carolina.
- Assessed operational police stress using the Operational Police Stress Questionnaire.
- Measured DE symptoms with the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory and collected height and weight data.
Main Results:
- Male officers reported higher rates of binge eating, excessive exercise, muscle building, and negative attitudes toward obesity compared to females.
- Operational police stress positively correlated with most DE symptoms across sexes, excluding excessive exercise.
- BMI and sex did not significantly moderate the relationship between operational stress and DE symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Disordered eating is a prevalent concern for both male and female police officers.
- Early detection through regular screening during physical exams is recommended for this high-stress occupation.
- Further research and targeted interventions are crucial for addressing DE in police populations.
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