title: Associations of Physical Activity and Obesity With the Risk of Developing the Metabolic Syndrome in Law Enforcement Officers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity and body mass index (BMI) with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in police officers.
  
  
  
  Self-reported physical activity, MetS, and a modified MetS (MMetS, excluding obesity) were assessed in 448 officers.
  
  
  
  Of the officers, 27.5% had MetS, 48.7% were overweight, and 31.7% were obese. Being overweight and obese increased the MetS risk by 6.8- and 10.9-fold, respectively, independent of physical activity level. Moderate and low levels of physical activity were associated with a 1.9- and 2.5-fold increased risk for MetS, but not after adjusting for BMI. However, within BMI categories, the risk for MMetS was lower as physical activity increased.
  
  
  
  In police, a higher BMI is more critical than reduced physical activity for MetS risk; however, physical activity can attenuate some of the risk associated with a higher BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames (Ms Anderson, Drs Yoo, Franke).
authors.forename: Amanda A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Hyelim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Warren D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Franke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016495:Police; D012307:Risk Factors