Abdominal circumference and physical performance in personnel of the National Police of Peru

Pascacio Yalico A.C.; Salazar Gastelu W.F.N.; Palomino Quispe L.P.; Mosquera Figueroa Z.R.; Antón Huiman J.C. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2025) · DOI: 10.12873/454pascacio

Resumen

Introduction: Police personnel require maintaining optimal physical and nutritional status to ensure adequate physical performance and efficient work performance. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between waist circumference and physical performance in Peruvian National Police officers assigned to the State Security Directorate. Materials and methods: A non-experimental, correlational cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were 196 police officers, selected through simple random probability sampling. Waist circumference was measured with a SECA tape measure and recorded on an anthropometric record. Physical performance was assessed using the Burpee test, and muscle strength (a CAMRY hydraulic dynamometer), cardiorespiratory endurance (a Rockport test with a Polar H9 sensor), and agility (a cone test and stopwatch). All measurements were recorded on a physical evaluation record. Correlation between variables was performed using Spearman’s coefficient.. Results: 86.2% of police officers were overweight (59.7% overweight, 21.4% grade I obesity, and 5.1% grade II obesity). The predominant age groups were 30–39 years (43.4%) and 50–65 years (35.2%). In the female group, 53.3% had a high-risk waist circumference and 20.0% had a very high risk. In male police officers, 40.4% had a high risk and 21.1% had a very high risk. Regarding physical performance, 65.3% were above average, 23.9% were average, and 10.7% were below average. A weak negative correlation was identified between waist circumference and physical performance (Rho = -0.010; p = 0.029), which was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a weak indirect correlation between abdominal circumference and physical performance, suggesting that as abdominal circumference increases, physical performance tends to decrease in Peruvian National Police officers.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola; Universidad César Vallejo