Police Officers Who Are Physically Active and Have Low Levels of Body Fat Show Better Reaction Time.

Abstract

To analyze the relationship between reaction time (RT), level of physical activity (PA), and anthropometric indicators in police officers in Special Operation Units. Twenty-two police officers (34.5 ± 9.1 years old) from Santa Catarina, Brazil, who were members of a Special Operation Coordination Unit. RT was measured by the Vienna Test System. Were obtained values of body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), and waist-to-hip ratio. PA was investigated using the Physical Activity Evaluation Questionnaire. Younger police officers (less than 34 years) and BF less than 15% presented better performance in RT when compared with older, and BF more than 15%, respectively. RT was negatively related to PA (rho = -0.48, P < 0.05), and positively related to BF (rho = 0.76, P < 0.01) and to BMI (rho = 0.46, P < 0.05). Participants from the group with greater BF and insufficient PA reacted significantly slower than others.