World-first study looks at shift work and weight gain (2024)

FAQs

Does shift work make you gain weight? ›

Linking Shift Work and Chronotype to Obesity

Another study finds that nightshift workers are more likely to eat more and that they crave foods with high calories and fat content. It also seems that mismatching chronotype with work time increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Late shifts disrupt the proteins responsible for regulating glucose, a small study has found, which may explain higher rates of diabetes and obesity among certain workers. Night shift workers are at a higher risk for disorders like diabetes and obesity.

A growing body of evidence shows a connection between shift work and numerous hazardous health outcomes, including both physical and mental health conditions. Shift work is also associated with increased workplace accidents, motor vehicle collisions, and burnout, posing a social risk.

Food and Activity

People gain weight when they eat more calories than they burn through activity. This imbalance is the greatest contributor to weight gain.

Increased risks

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher risk of mood changes. Increased risk of gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation and stomach discomfort. Higher risk of motor vehicle accidents and work-related accidents.

Hunnes' statement by summarizing that the major causes behind the climbing rates of obesity include the disappearance of fresh food markets, control of food chains by supermarkets, and the increasing mass production of processed foods in many countries.

Many factors influence body weight-genes, though the effect is small, and heredity is not destiny; prenatal and early life influences; poor diets; too much television watching; too little physical activity and sleep; and our food and physical activity environment.

Diet and lifestyle factors contribute to development of obesity and overweight. Some of the most common ones are: eating large amounts of processed or fast food – this is food that's high in fat and sugar. drinking too much alcohol – alcohol contains a lot of calories.

Optimal scheduling would use a clockwise (morning-afternoon-night) rotational schedule: limiting night shifts to blocks of 3, limiting shift duration to 8 hours, and allowing 3 days of recuperation after night shifts.

How many years does shift work take off life? ›

Shift work can kill you 15 years sooner, warns Whoop's chief scientist, while dramatically raising your risk for depression and suicide. Essential staff who work night shifts are more vulnerable to mental health issues.

As a shift work employee, you typically have free time when most people are working. You can visit the bank, supermarket and post office at quiet times and avoid long queues or traffic jams. This can reduce the time it takes to run errands and provide you with more free time for the things you enjoy doing.

Energy-rich foods: Energy-dense foods fuel your body and can help you put on pounds in a healthy way. These include nuts (especially almonds, walnuts, peanuts), dried fruits (raisins or prunes), dark chocolate, high-fat dairy (milk), and certain vegetables (potatoes and yams).

What causes an increase in belly fat? There are many reasons why people gain belly fat, including poor diet, lack of exercise, and stress. Improving nutrition, increasing activity, and making other lifestyle changes can help people lose belly fat. Belly fat refers to fat around the abdomen.

Some researchers think that it may take as long as three years to adjust to a shift work schedule. Others believe that you will never fully adjust to an unusual sleep/wake pattern. Even if this is the case, you can make the best of a bad situation to sleep better.

We know that working irregular hours disrupts the body's natural body-clock, may affect eating patterns and have a negative effect on health, putting shift workers at a higher risk for weight gain and chronic disease.

Your metabolism is mostly governed by your hormones. The hormone leptin, for example, plays a critical role in regulating your weight, blood sugar, and insulin levels. Working the night shift interferes with the production and circulation of this vital hormone.

Weight shifting (or weight transfering) in sport is a fundamental movement where the weight of the body moves from one foot to the other.