Do America's Police Have a Weight Problem?
Eight out of every 10 police officers in the United States are overweight and researchers say they are 25 times more likely to die as a result of weight-related health problems than from an encounter with a criminal, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to a CBS DFW report which highlighted the statistic, the Garland Police Department in Texas is now working on a plan to improve the fitness of police officers in that command in response to the findings.
"I think it's important for all of us to keep the weight down and stay in shape, especially this job. The stress that we incur at this job … this is a great way to relieve the stress and to keep the blood pressure down," Garland Assistant Chief Jeff Bryan told CBS.