Obesity-plagued Police Officers in South Africa Asked to Lose Weight or Lose Jobs

Obesity plagues the South African police who have been threatened with the loss of their jobs if they do not lose weight in a bid to do their work effectively and to change negative public opinion.

According to News.com.au, South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and the Government is concerned that the public have considering the police as lazy, fat, corrupt and inefficient.

Obesity - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications, Treatment
Obesity is a condition where there is excess accumulation of body fat which poses a risk to the health of the individual. It can affect children and adults.

Police Deputy Minister, Fikile Mbalula threatened that the police would have "to shape up or ship out".

"Some police officers decide to balloon immediately after leaving the training college. They should not be busy massaging beer bellies when criminals are on the run. They must work on their weight," he said.

"Are you fit enough to fight the criminals? If not, the police service is not for you," We need officers who can match criminals pound for pound," he added.

Several dozen police officers were reportedly sent to special boot camps to get fit before the football World Cup in the summer, amid concerns that the showpiece event could be ruined by crime. The result was positive, as the event was almost crime-free.

Obesity of police officers is not the only concern of South Africa. The country ranks alongside the U.S. and Germany in the obesity stakes, with 61 percent of South Africans overweight, obese or morbidly obese, according to a report by GlaxoSmithKline, the drug and healthcare company.

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Source-ANI