Thai Policemen Ordered To Reduce Weight

Policemen with waistlines larger than 40 inches have been ordered to reduce their weight so they look good when they direct traffic, the local police department in Thailand announced.

The department says recent medical examinations of over 4,000 police officers in Bangkok found that 49 percent of them had high cholesterol and were overweight, which affected their jobs and was "an obstacle" in directing traffic.

Eighty-eight of the overweight officers whose waistlines ranged between 40 and 49 inches were ordered to join the "Smart Police," a one-month weight-loss program. Participants will have to eat according to doctors' instructions and meet for daily exercise and evening meals at a Bangkok hospital.

"We hope this will help create a better image of traffic police in the public's eyes," said police Maj. Gen. Montri Chamroon, explaining why the police force wants them to "look smart".

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