No more doughnuts: Vancouver cops pursue healthier lifestyle
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) - Vancouver police officers and Clark County sheriff's deputies are working with doctors at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland to improve their health.
The officers replaced doughnuts with fruit and veggies in their diets, increased their physical activity and were working on stress reduction, The Columbian reported in Sunday's newspaper.
The changes are part of a $3 million four-year health study led by Dr. Kerry Kuehl, who has enlisted 130 deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office and 80 officers from the Vancouver Police Department, along with two law enforcement agencies in Oregon.
Over the next few years, Kuehl hopes to expand the program to police departments across the country.
The first step was stress and fitness tests of all the officers in the study.
About 21 to 25 percent of people in the general population have metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, diabetes, excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol levels. In law enforcement, 35 percent have metabolic syndrome, Kuehl said.
Disrupted sleep patterns and hyper vigilance from always being on guard contribute to these conditions.
Some of the goals set for officers in the study included minimum requirements for daily fruit and vegetable servings and physical activity, hours of sleep, quitting tobacco use and reducing alcohol intake.
About once a week, teams of four to six officers got together before or after work to lead their own 45-minute workshops on nutrition, fitness and stress management.
Teamwork and healthy competition improved sleep behaviors, fatigue and diet among participants. Kuehl is encouraged by the results and plans to use this year to test its durability and see if officers will stick with their nutrition and fitness goals.
Clark County Sheriff Garry Lucas and former Vancouver Police Chief Cliff Cook supported the program, but their officers did not receive any incentives or bonuses for participating. They could participate free of charge.
"This isn't easy. We can't do it without the participation of law enforcement officers," Kuehl said.
Keuhl will release more data after presenting his six-month findings at the 34th annual Society of Behavioral Medicine meeting March 23 in San Francisco.
The officers replaced doughnuts with fruit and veggies in their diets, increased their physical activity and were working on stress reduction, The Columbian reported in Sunday's newspaper.
The changes are part of a $3 million four-year health study led by Dr. Kerry Kuehl, who has enlisted 130 deputies from the Clark County Sheriff's Office and 80 officers from the Vancouver Police Department, along with two law enforcement agencies in Oregon.
Over the next few years, Kuehl hopes to expand the program to police departments across the country.
The first step was stress and fitness tests of all the officers in the study.
About 21 to 25 percent of people in the general population have metabolic syndrome, a combination of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, diabetes, excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol levels. In law enforcement, 35 percent have metabolic syndrome, Kuehl said.
Disrupted sleep patterns and hyper vigilance from always being on guard contribute to these conditions.
Some of the goals set for officers in the study included minimum requirements for daily fruit and vegetable servings and physical activity, hours of sleep, quitting tobacco use and reducing alcohol intake.
About once a week, teams of four to six officers got together before or after work to lead their own 45-minute workshops on nutrition, fitness and stress management.
Teamwork and healthy competition improved sleep behaviors, fatigue and diet among participants. Kuehl is encouraged by the results and plans to use this year to test its durability and see if officers will stick with their nutrition and fitness goals.
Clark County Sheriff Garry Lucas and former Vancouver Police Chief Cliff Cook supported the program, but their officers did not receive any incentives or bonuses for participating. They could participate free of charge.
"This isn't easy. We can't do it without the participation of law enforcement officers," Kuehl said.
Keuhl will release more data after presenting his six-month findings at the 34th annual Society of Behavioral Medicine meeting March 23 in San Francisco.
So it takes 3 million dollars to figure out that eating twinkies is probably not the best diet for promoting health and well being. If only I could have come up with that idea first, perhaps Mr government could give me a big tax break.Â
No fatties
Sad that OHSU couldn't find something better and more worth while to put such a large study on. Â $3 million for this??? Â How about putting that into something like, oh I dono, children's diseases. Â This is just a waste. Â If the PD needs help on such a large scale to figure out how to take care of themselves then how can they do their job?! Â Apparently they've never heard of a nutritionist.
I love the goals---"minimum requirements for daily fruit and vegetable servings and physical activity, hours of sleep, quitting tobacco use and reducing alcohol intake."----I mean, who woulda thunk it?????
$3 million to study two Department's fat cops??? Betcha this is an Obama grant.
I've never known anyone who was forcefed a doughnut or a cheeseburger...Kudos for another doctor finding grant or tax money to study something everyone has realized is a personal choice problem years ago. I lost weight 3 years ago and have kept it off, by making better choices...but I'd love some money to study how I can make even better choices...how about it?
I bet if you just paid each deputy 23,076.92 each (3 Million / 130Â Participants) they would happily lose weight on their own time. Wasted money.
Next..lead free bullets!
Cops quitting donuts? That's it, I'm selling my Krispy Kreme stock!
@Mikeftm Haha. Its up over 13 bucks a share right now......almost twice what it was in November.
@komonews They should eat #paleo and do #crossfit!
Congratulations do you want a cookie to celebrate?
You need $3 million to tell you that eatin' doughnuts aint good for you????? Â No wonder we're broke.
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@komonews Awesome. After the first 2 wks it will be easy. Keep at it. Runners high beats all! On On...
@komonews who cares?
Pits, Vancouver, Wa? Thatâs way too close â almost like I lost part of my biggest support groupâ¦â¦.I donât get out much anymore, and when I do, I like to get a âfreshlyâ made doughnut vice a Hostess box of âemâ¦. Always thought I could count on my local LEOâsâ¦.. Am hoping this is a misprint, and itâs a Vancouver on the East Coastâ¦..
@komonews: Good motto for the law enforcement to follow.