For those working in law enforcement, there are sometimes challenges to eating healthy meals while on the job; long hours of shift work, sitting in a car for an extended period of time, and working overnight are all potential barriers to healthy eating. As such, those in the profession need to take a proactive approach to their diets and develop plans for eating that minimize the effects of these barriers on their daily nutrition.

Law enforcement officers are not alone in poor eating habits. In the United States, approximately 34.9 percent of adults are reported to be obese. While there are many biological and social factors that need to be considered when discussing obesity, poor diets and unhealthy eating habits play a significant role. It is estimated that 50–70 million people attempt various diets every year, yet the majority of those who lose weight due to dieting are unable to keep the weight off long term. There are two main reasons for this: first, restricting a diet to what a person should and should not eat is difficult for many people who are not dedicated to a healthy eating lifestyle, and second, many people do not have an active lifestyle, which helps maintain a healthy weight.