The Impact of Burnout on Body Composition in Medical Staff

Background and Objectives: Burnout syndrome is a major challenge among healthcare workers, affecting both mental and physical health. Although stress may influence physiological systems, this study does not directly assess biological mechanisms, and interpretations should remain associative. Stress-related associations may be reflected in body composition, but objective data are limited. This study aims to assess the associations between burnout, body composition, and quality of life in medical staff, using bioimpedance as the main tool. Material and methods: The cross-sectional study included 95 medical staff (36 resident doctors, 13 specialists/consultants, 31 nurses, 15 nursing assistants), 75.8% women, mean age 38 ± 10 years, conducted in the medical and surgical departments of Dr. C.I. Parhon Clinical Hospital, Iași, between January and March 2024. Burnout was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory; quality of life was evaluated with SF-12; body composition was measured by bioimpedance (BMI, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, hydration, basal metabolism, metabolic age). Statistical analyses included ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman correlations. Results: Resident physicians had higher muscle, bone mass and basal metabolism, with lower adipose tissue compared to other categories (p < 0.05). Total burnout and exhaustion were positively correlated with muscle mass (r = 0.247, p = 0.016), bone mass (r = 0.219, p = 0.033), basal metabolism (r = 0.219, p = 0.033) and negatively with QoLM (r = -0.315, p = 0.002). Other body variables, including BMI, total adipose tissue, and water level, showed no significant correlations. These associations may be influenced by age, sex, and professional category and do not imply causality. Conclusions: Age, profession, and work seniority are associated with burnout and specific changes in body composition. However, these findings are correlational, and bioimpedance-derived parameters do not reflect direct biological stress mechanisms.