Association of low physical activity with metabolic syndrome in law enforcement officers

Law enforcement officers (LEOs) exhibit a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome, yet contributing factors remain unclear. This study examined the association between physical activity and metabolic syndrome among 309 LEOs enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Physical measures, blood biomarkers, and self-reported physical activity were collected, and metabolic syndrome was classified using NCEP/ATP III criteria. Overall, 34.3% of participants had metabolic syndrome. Low physical activity was strongly associated with increased risk (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.62–5.76; p = 0.001) after adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors. Findings suggest physical activity is a key modifiable factor for preventing metabolic syndrome and related comorbidities in LEOs.