Relations Between Frequency and Volume of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Body Composition in Police Officers

Abstract

Purpose: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) has always been very important for the maintenance and improvement of body composition. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine if the frequency and volume of LTPA (F-LTPA and V-LTPA) were related to indices of body composition in police officers. Method: A physical activity questionnaire was used to collect data from 346 male police officers regarding their F-LTPA and V-LTPA. They were divided into four groups relative to the frequency, and four groups relative to the volume of LTPA, labeled as inactive, seldom active, moderately active and very active for each LTPA indicator. Percent body fat (PBF), skeletal muscle mass (PSMM), skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) and body fat mass index (BFMI) were assessed. Correlation analyses investigated associations and multivariate analysis of variance analysed the differences between body composition and LTPA, with significance set at p < .05. Results: The F-LTPA correlated (p < .001) to PBF (r = -0.306), BFMI (r = -0.289), PSMM (r = 0.309) and SMMI (r = -0.138, p = .010). The V-LTPA correlated (p < .001) to PBF (r = -0.370), BFMI (r = -0.348), PSMM (r = 0.311), and SMMI (r = -0.106, p = .049). The differences that occurred between more and less active police officers, whereby those who were very active had lower values of PBF and BFMI and higher values of PSMM and SMMI regardless of the frequency and volume of LTPA. PBF and PSMM were more affected by LTPA than SMMI and BFMI. Conclusions: F-LTPA and V-LTPA were considered important for police officers, whereby F-LTPA was related to muscle and V-LTPA to fat parameters of body composition.

Keywords: Occupational health; job performance; law enforcement officers; physical fitness.