Shape up: Malaysian police officers told to lose weight
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Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian police officers will begin a training programme next week aimed at tackling obesity in the force, a senior police official said Thursday.
Some 11,000 police officers are estimated to be overweight in Malaysia, out of 122,403 officers nationwide, according to police logistics chief Zulkifli Abdullah.
The six-month Fit N Fit 2016 project, to start Monday, will initially include 35 officers, Abdullah said.
"Police officers are on the frontline of law enforcement and in maintaining public order, so they must always be in shape to effectively carry out their duties," he told reporters.
Instructors from the Health Ministry will oversee the programme, which will require the participants to exercise five days a week according to a special workout plan, said Zulkifli.
Participants will also do outdoor exercises, such as kayaking, mountain climbing and aerobics, and undergo nutritional counselling, he said.
The programme's main objective is to reduce overweight officers' body fat and waist circumference by five to 10 per cent.
DPA
