Effects of a physical training programme on anthropometric and fitness measures in obese and overweight police trainees and officers

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of a 10-week training programme on the anthropometric characteristics and physical abilities of obese and overweight police trainees and officers. The anthropometric characteristics measured were Body mass (BM), body height (BH), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), while the physical ability variables included Change of direction speed ([CODS] t-test), upper-body muscular endurance (1-minute push-up) (PU), trunk muscular endurance (1-minute sit-up) (SU), and aerobic endurance (2.4km run) (RUN). A sample of 46 (n=36 obese; n=10 overweight) male police trainees (age=29.2±5.2yrs; BH=174.09±5.21cm; BM=100.55±11.99kg) were involved in a ten-week physical activity intervention study. A paired sample t-test and Cohen’s d effect size (ES) found significant changes (p<0.001) in tested anthropometric (BM, BMI, WC and WHtR) and physical ability variables (T-test, PU, SU and RUN). Findings can be used as a guideline for implementing training procedures among overweight and obese police trainees and officers in order to prevent cardiovascular issues and improve their physical fitness.