In its third successive annual Body Mass Index (BMI) drive, the Assam Police found that only 2.06 per cent of its 73,317 personnel fall into the “obese” category, according to a post shared by the force on X. According to WHO standards, a BMI over 30 qualifies as obese, while over 25 is considered overweight. Assam Police officials said the figure represents a “steady drop” compared to earlier years, signalling a leaner and more mission-ready force.
The BMI testing programme was first introduced in 2023 to promote fitness, professionalism, and health monitoring within the force. In a previous phase, when around 70,000 personnel were screened, 2.47 per cent were classified as obese.
Those flagged for obesity have been re-examined and offered medical and nutritional support.
While Assam’s numbers appear modest, obesity among police personnel is a growing concern across other states. A study of Karnataka police in Chitradurga district found 11 per cent of the force obese and 49 per cent overweight.
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In Puducherry, more than half (51.6 per cent) of police officers were classified as obese when judged by Asian BMI thresholds.
In a broader occupational health study, 67.3 per cent of officers across another force were found to be overweight or obese, with metabolic syndrome prevalent in nearly half.
The relatively low obesity rate in Assam could reflect the success of its fitness drive, but data from other regions suggests that overweight and obesity remain substantial health risks for Indian police personnel. Obesity is closely linked to hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, conditions already documented in police work.
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