@article{ref1,
title="Associations between psychological distress and body mass index among law enforcement officers: the National Health Interview Survey 2004-2010",
journal="Safety and health at work",
year="2013",
author="Gu, Ja K. and Charles, Luenda E. and Burchfiel, Cecil M. and Andrew, Michael E. and Ma, Claudia and Bang, Ki Moon and Violanti, John M.",
volume="4",
number="1",
pages="52-62",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between psychological distress and obesity among law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the United States. <br><br>METHODS: Self-reported data on psychological distress based on six key questions were obtained from LEOs who participated in the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2010). We used Prochaska's cut-point of a Kessler 6 score ≥ 5 for moderate/high mental distress in our analysis. Mean levels of body mass index (BMI) were compared across three levels of psychological distress. <br><br>RESULTS: The average age of LEOs (n = 929) was 39.3 years; 25% were female. Overall, 8.1% of LEOs had moderate or high psychological distress; 37.5% were obese (BMI ≥ 30). Mean BMI increased with increasing psychological distress (no distress, BMI = 27.2 kg/m(2); mild distress, 27.6 kg/m(2); and moderate/high distress, 33.1 kg/m(2); p = 0.016) after adjustment for age, race, income, and education level among female officers only. Physical activity modified the association between psychological distress and BMI but only among male LEOs (interaction p = 0.002). Among male LEOs reporting low physical activity, psychological distress was positively associated with BMI (30.3 kg/m(2) for no distress, 30.7 for mild distress, 31.8 for moderate/high distress; p = 0.179) after adjustment, but not significantly. This association was not significant among males reporting high physical activity. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Mean BMI significantly increased as psychological distress increased among female LEOs. A longitudinal study design may reveal the directionality of this association as well as the potential role that physical activity might play in this association.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2093-7911",
doi="10.5491/SHAW.2013.4.1.52",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5491/SHAW.2013.4.1.52"
}