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The Effect of Shiftwork on Body Composition: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study Among Health Care Workers
Piumika Sooriyaarachchi1, Ranil Jayawardena, Toby Pavey
1From the Queensland University of Technology, Faculty of Health, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (Ms Sooriyaarachchi, Dr Jayawardena, Dr Pavey, Dr King); Health and Wellness Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka (Ms Sooriyaarachchi); Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka (Dr Jayawardena).
Objective:
This study compared the body composition parameters between shiftworkers and nonshiftworkers in a hospital setting in Sri Lanka.
Methods:
A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out among a sample of 78 health care workers, recruited by a stratified random sampling technique. Subjects underwent anthropometric and bioimpedentiometric analysis for body composition parameters.
Results:
The mean (SD) body fat percentage (BF%) of shiftworking women (40.8 [SD, 6.8%]) was significantly higher than day-working women (36.7% [SD, 5.9%]) ( P < 0.05). Mean BF% between day and shift groups did not significantly differ (33.0% [SD, 6.9%] vs 32.4% [SD, 10.7%]). Body mass index and waist circumference were significantly higher among shiftworking women ( P < 0.05), whereas male workers showed the opposite trend.
Conclusion:
Prolonged exposure to shiftwork was associated with a higher BF%. Therefore, interventions for shiftworkers must be addressed, focusing on improving body composition.
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