Research Article
Nutritional Status and Health Outcomes Among Traffic Police in Belagavi, India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Pirjade S1 and Kour H2*
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, J.N Medical College, Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
2Department of Physiology, J.N Medical College Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
2Department of Physiology, J.N Medical College Belagavi, Karnataka, India.
*Corresponding author:Dr. Harpreet Kour, Department of Physiology, J.N Medical College Belagavi, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, Karnataka, India E-mail id: harpreetkour.kour@gmail.com
Article Information:Submission: 23/06/2025; Accepted: 02/08/2025; Published: 06/08/2025
Copyright: © 2025 Pirjade S, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Background: Traffic police personnel are subjected to multiple occupational stressors including prolonged standing, air pollution, and irregular schedules, which may predispose them to poor nutritional and health outcomes.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 70 traffic police personnel aged 40 to 60 years in Belagavi, Karnataka. Data on nutritional status were obtained through anthropometric assessments, three-day 24-hour dietary recall, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Health outcomes were assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square tests were employed for analysis. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: The mean age of participants was 47.57 ± 6.12 years. The mean BMI was 26.25 ± 3.31 kg/m², with 62.8% of participants classified as overweight or obese. Dietary intake exceeded recommended daily allowances for energy and macronutrients, while only 8.6% had good dietary diversity. Low physical activity was reported by 80% of participants, 67.1% experienced moderate stress, and 41.4% had poor sleep quality. Work ability scores were poor in 91.4% of cases. Significant associations were found between BMI and both work ability (p = 0.04) and sleep quality (p = 0.02).
Conclusion: Traffic police personnel in Belagavi exhibit a high burden of modifiable health risks related to nutrition, physical inactivity, and occupational strain. Multi-component health interventions targeting diet, physical activity, and recovery behaviors are urgently needed to improve health outcomes and occupational sustainability in this workforce.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 70 traffic police personnel aged 40 to 60 years in Belagavi, Karnataka. Data on nutritional status were obtained through anthropometric assessments, three-day 24-hour dietary recall, and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Health outcomes were assessed using the Work Ability Index (WAI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square tests were employed for analysis. P value less than 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: The mean age of participants was 47.57 ± 6.12 years. The mean BMI was 26.25 ± 3.31 kg/m², with 62.8% of participants classified as overweight or obese. Dietary intake exceeded recommended daily allowances for energy and macronutrients, while only 8.6% had good dietary diversity. Low physical activity was reported by 80% of participants, 67.1% experienced moderate stress, and 41.4% had poor sleep quality. Work ability scores were poor in 91.4% of cases. Significant associations were found between BMI and both work ability (p = 0.04) and sleep quality (p = 0.02).
Conclusion: Traffic police personnel in Belagavi exhibit a high burden of modifiable health risks related to nutrition, physical inactivity, and occupational strain. Multi-component health interventions targeting diet, physical activity, and recovery behaviors are urgently needed to improve health outcomes and occupational sustainability in this workforce.
Keywords:Nutritional Status; Occupational Health; Traffic Police; Body Mass Index (BMI); Physical Activity; Sleep Quality; Work Ability Index; Perceived Stress; Dietary Diversity; India