The benefits and challenges of a fitness and lifestyle enhancement program for correctional officers.
This paper documents the benefits and difficulties encountered in the development of an on-site exercise and lifestyle enhancement program for correctional officers. 25 male correctional officers participated in a 6.5-week strength and aerobic training program integrated with penitentiary duties. 21 officers were available for retesting. The program was associated with decreases in body weight, skinfold thickness, cholesterol levels and increases in HDL-cholesterol, chest girth, strength scores and muscular endurance. Resting heart rates and systolic blood pressures were reduced but there was no significant change in maximal oxygen consumption. Furthermore, there were favourable changes in smoking and alcohol consumption, sleeping patterns, nutritional habits and tolerance of stress. These results are probably typical of what can be expected from a program of this type. We conclude that a brief at-work exercise and health enhancement program can exert positive but modest influences on the fitness, health and lifestyle of correctional officers, without undermining security of the institution. However, if this type of program is to achieve beneficial effects on health and fitness, a number of difficulties must be addressed.
Jetté
M
M
Department of Kinanthropology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario.
Sidney
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011330:Prisons; D011792:Quebec