In a drive to help shed extra weight from some Bangkok traffic police, the law enforcement officers have been put on strict diets and regular exercise under official medical advice to reduce their waistlines.
As a result, the lives of traffic police in Thailand’s capital have started to improve. They have lost weight, which impacts their health positively, encouraging them to fully perform their duties.
For more than two months, the Metropolitan Police Bureau has held outdoor health-related activities for traffic police officers. The activities, it is reported, makes them happy and they become less stressed and more relaxed.
Pol Snr Sgt Maj Supakorn Pantachakchularp said the physical workout helped him lose more than 10 kilos, while his waistline shrank by 4 inches and his body mass index (BMI) — an overall rating of health — obviously improved.
The police officer admitted that he went to bed late every night and that he woke up early and always wanted to eat something before bedtime. He said the programme provided by the police bureau forced him to change his behaviour and he had to start being on a diet. However, he said it gives a positive result to himself.
“I don’t really get tired anymore. Before, I thought I slept a lot already but I still got tired. But when I started working out and began to lose weight, I could perform my duties better. Now sleeping for only 4-5 hours a day is enough for me,” said Sgt Maj Supakorn.
Another officer, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Nitad Saisa-ard, said although he couldn’t strictly follow the programme set by the police bureau, for he was unwell while the programme took place, he admitted that he could use the benefit from the exercise. He couldn’t lose much weight due to his sickness, but the exercise relaxed him.
“It’s good to get the chance to sooth in some ozone and get to relax a bit. Our lungs have so much pollution already, and the exercise helps our bodies to adjust the body temperature inside,” Sgt Maj Nitad said.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau’s 2013 Fit and Firm Project allows pot-bellied traffic police to change themselves for better health under medical advice.
The pilot scheme started at the capital’s Metropolitan Police Division 5 among 40 police officers. The result of the programme was deemed successful, demonstrating that officers joining the activity could lose 5.3 per cent on average of their waistlines and 3.9 per cent on average of their weight.
The police bureau is planning to expand the activity to traffic police officers in other divisions.
