Association between Eating Habits and Abdominal Circumference in Police Officers, Lima, Peru, 2025

Adams K.J.; Huaman Palacios A.G.; Valqui Maslucan A. · Nutricion Clinica y Dietetica Hospitalaria (2026) · DOI: 10.12873/ncdh-167

Resumen

Background: Abdominal obesity is a growing public health problem and is associated with an increased cardiometabolic risk. Police officers constitute a particularly vulnerable population due to rotating shifts, occupational stress, and limited access to healthy foods. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between dietary habits and abdominal circumference among police officers from a precinct in San Isidro in 2025. Methods: A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted, through a census in a single police station with 71 police officers. The OPS/WHO STEPS Dietary Habits Questionnaire was used, and abdominal circumference was measured following established anthropometric risk criteria. Results: A total of 66.2% of the police officers had unhealthy eating habits, and 52.1% had abdominal circumference classified as very high risk. Unhealthy eating habits were significantly associated with abdominal circumference (X2 = 11.87; df = 2; p = 0.007), with a higher prevalence of very high risk compared with those who had healthy eating habits (crude prevalence ratio [cPR] = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.13–4.23). Likewise, unhealthy consumption of ultraprocessed foods (cPR = 2.69; 95% CI: 1.22–5.94), fried foods (cPR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.00–4.10), and sugar-sweetened beverages (cPR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.28–5.44) was associated with greater abdominal circumference. In the exploratory model adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, and presence of chronic disease, unhealthy eating habits remained significantly associated with very high-risk abdominal circumference (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.11–4.21; p = 0.023). Conclusion: a significant association was found between inadequate dietary habits and greater abdominal circumference, suggesting higher central adiposity among the police officers evaluated.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada del Norte