When HR Blunders ran a story about how companies are cracking down on employee smoking even off the job, many of our readers called on employers to target overweight workers, too.
So we thought we’d tell you about how the Los Angeles Police Department has hired a full-time dietician to help pudgy police pitch pounds.
Rana Parker has provided personal counseling to about 90 recruits, taught a nutrition course to 500 others and made presentations to 400 officers.
Is there a recent propensity for police with paunches?
In fact, there is. Faced with a need for more officers, the LAPD briefly relaxed maximum body fat limits from their usual 22% for men and 30% for women.
One idea Parker pushes: Lay off the fast food.
On busy days, it’s tempting for officers to grab a burger and fries, a slice of pizza, or a microwave burrito.
Parker encourages officers and recruits to keep power bars, fruit and peanut butter sandwiches around. They’re easy to fix and can be eaten quickly.
And when you think about it, that’s not bad advice for any of us who are bogged down at work.
So, no more cops gathering at donut shops. Now you’ll have to look for them in the healthy foods aisle.
