Is There A Link Between Night Shift Nursing Work And Obesity?
Kathryn Stock evaluates whether working night shifts as a Nursing Home Nurse have contributed towards struggles with her weight.
10th May 2018
Written by Kathryn Stock
I’ve been working four nights per week in nursing homes for the past 18 months, and I have never felt so fat!
Much to my dismay, I’ve risen from a size 12 which I've been since my late teens, to a size 16/18. I am now in my early 50's.
I am frustrated at my inability to shift the pounds, despite cutting out sugar and watching what I eat.
It's demoralising. I don't want to be fat.
I’ve been blaming myself and of course, I should take responsibility. After all, it is me who puts the food in my mouth.
Upset by my lack of progress despite huge efforts, and because many people I work with also have weight issues, I decided to consider whether there was a link between my increased night work, and my inability to lose weight.
To my surprise, I found, there is.
Studies have started to show not only a link between night work and obesity, but also to show why.
In a report published in October 2017, researchers from the Chinese University in Hong Kong studied shift patterns and how it impacted someone's health.
Their findings suggested:
● Those who work night shifts are at higher risk of developing obesity
● The melatonin levels in the brain are altered when sleep patterns are changed, impacting the metabolism
● People who work night shifts have a 35% higher risk of obesity as the nocturnal schedule derails their metabolism,
● Artificial light during night shifts disrupts the brain's melatonin levels and hinders the body's metabolism,
● Night shift workers gain weight quicker because the metabolism is working slower than normal,
● Despite suffering disturbed sleep, night shift workers burned up to 15% fewer calories.
Experts recommend altering the work schedule to avoid working night hours to reduce the global obesity epidemic.
So, there is reason why I am finding it so difficult to lose weight.
What I need now is an eating plan which takes into account night shifts and their effects so that not only can I lose weight but can keep it off in the future.
Any ideas?
