40,000 cops are obese, PNP admits

Will the motto of the Philippine National Police (PNP) soon be, "To protect and to diet"?

Over 40,000 policemen nationwide are suffering from obesity, a condition that can trigger various degenerative illnesses, an official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

While the nation’s law enforcers grapple with a shortage of guns, there’s no shortage of overweight cops, according to Dr. Eduardo Tanchoco, chief of clinics of the PNP General Hospital.

He says the 40,000-plus obese cops represent 35 percent of the entire PNP force of 115,000. Around nine percent of them suffer from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

"What we hope to achieve is zero obesity but we know this is difficult to do. So little by little, we hope to reduce the incidence rate of obesity among policemen," Tanchoco noted during the launch of a weight-reduction program held by Abbott Laboratories for PNP members.

Dubbed "RED Treatment," the program has benefited 104 policemen who underwent a three-month program to lose their unwanted pounds.

RED stands for "Rx," as in prescribed medication to reduce weight, "exercise" and "diet."

Among the weight losers were SPO2 Diosdado Ranada of the Traffic Management Group who managed to shed 38 pounds from his 238-pound frame, and Chief Inspector Christina Nobleza who now weighs in at 150 pounds, down from 185 pounds.

The program combines a regimen of doctor-prescribed medication to manage weight gain; exercise that supports the burning of calories and improved overall health wellness; and a reduced-calorie diet plan based on "normal" food to help minimize energy intake.

Dr. Estrellita Lopez, an endocrinologist at the UST Hospital in Manila, maintained that mere efforts at "lifestyle intervention" — like diet or exercise — might help one to lose weight, but may not be enough to maintain the loss.

Lopez added that abrupt reduction in weight can also cause concomitant illnesses, like weakened immune defenses and cardiovascular and coronary diseases.

She maintained that everyone must have his or her own weight reduction program that is based on individual needs and medical history. She underscored the importance of addressing obesity not only to enhance appearance but also to improve health.

Appearance is important to the PNP, which has acquired a reputation for slovenly looking or overweight cops, leading to perceptions of graft and corruption.

Tanchoco said they hope that minimizing obesity in the PNP would help improve the image of the policemen.

"The PNP personnel will then be looked up to as able and capable of protecting the people because we expect the PNP personnel to go after law breakers, so they have to be physically fit," he added.