Shift work schedule and night work load: Effects on body mass index - a four-year longitudinal study
Hogne Vikanes Buchvold1, Ståle Pallesen, Siri Waage
1Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarlien 31, 5018 Bergen, Norway. hognebuchvold@gmail.com.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|March 1, 2018
Summary
Night work is linked to significant body mass index (BMI) gain in nurses. This study found higher BMI increases in night shift workers compared to day workers over four years.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Shift work, particularly night shifts, is prevalent in nursing.
- Previous studies suggest a link between shift work and metabolic health.
- Understanding the impact of work schedules on body mass index (BMI) is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in body mass index (BMI) among nurses with different work schedules.
- To examine the association between the average number of yearly night shifts and BMI changes.
- To assess BMI changes over a four-year follow-up period in a prospective cohort.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 2965 Norwegian nurses with various work schedules (day, two-shift, three-shift, night only, schedule changers).
- Paired t-tests for within-subgroup BMI changes; multiple linear regression for between-group effects, adjusting for confounders.
- Analysis included BMI at baseline, sex, age, marital status, children, and years since graduation.
Main Results:
- Significant BMI gain observed in night workers, two-shift workers, three-shift workers, and those changing work schedules towards or away from night shifts.
- Night workers showed a significantly larger BMI gain compared to day workers after adjusting for confounders.
- No significant association was found between the average number of yearly night shifts and BMI change.
Conclusions:
- Night work is associated with a significant increase in BMI compared to day work among nurses.
- Work schedule, specifically night work, is a significant factor in BMI changes over time.
- Further research may explore mechanisms linking night work to weight gain.
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