According to statistics, thousands of pairs of XXL pants with waists of at least 40 inches had been ordered for police personnel.
Sizes 40 inches, 50 inches, 52 inches, and an enormous 56 inches—the equivalent of 4.5 feet—were among the 7,343 pairs that the Met Police bought.
While Greater Manchester Police needed 15, and Northumbria Police purchased 11, West Midlands Police purchased 1,852 bumper pairs last year.
The National Obesity Forum’s Tam Frey called the statistics “scary.”
The Met Police emphasized that all of its personnel must still submit to yearly fitness testing.
According to a spokeswoman, “a person’s waist circumference is not always a sign of fitness or their capacity to do their work.”
In Hampshire Constabulary, two years ago, two-thirds of the officers were categorized as either overweight or obese.
Chief Superintendent Lucy Hutson expressed worries about how “lifestyle conditions” might elevate the risk of fatal illnesses including cancer and diabetes in an internal communication to the staff.
The NHS recommends that people’s waistlines be slightly under half their height.
According to the recommendations, a healthy waist ratio is between 0.4 and 0.49, while a ratio of 0.5 to 0.59 puts individuals at an elevated risk of health problems.
Two out of three persons in the general population are considered overweight or obese.
According to Cancer Research UK, this number has increased dramatically over the last 30 years, and within five years, the number of unwell individuals will surpass that of healthy ones.
According to predictions made by the organization, 40% of people will be obese and at least 70% of people will be overweight or obese in 20 years.
According to the organisation, being overweight or obese increases the chance of developing 13 different forms of cancer, with roughly 22,800 cancer cases being associated with being overweight.
‘These estimates should serve as a wake-up call to the Government about the status of our nation’s health,’ said Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research, at the time.
When it comes to combating the obesity issue, ministers must stop postponing actions that would result in better eating alternatives.
I urge them to reconsider their choice and act decisively to combat obesity, the second-largest avoidable risk factor for cancer in the UK.
The primary cause of cancer, experts said, would soon be fat rather than smoking if current trends continue.