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

Objective: To analyze the relationship between reaction time (RT), level of physical activity (PA), and anthropometric indicators in police officers in Special Operation Units.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: Participants from the group with greater BF and insufficient PA reacted significantly slower than others.