In an attempt to help overweight officers get back in shape, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has hired a full-time diet coach to chalk out special diet plans for them.

Rana Parker, who joined the force in July, was working as a diet coach at Head Start, the federal aid program for children. Now she will target recruits and help instill in them good eating habits and finding time for balanced meals.

The LAPD briefly relaxed body fat limits from a maximum of 22 percent for men and 30 percent for women when it was faced with a decline in the number of officers. This led to a large number of fatter officers in the job.

The dietician has counselled about 90 recruits about how to lose weight the right way by eating a balanced diet. She also taught a nutrition course to about 500 officers and made presentations to more than 400 officers.

Parker encourages officers to carry energy bars, fruit and peanut butter sandwiches in squad cars and their desks so they don't snack on unhealthier meals.