For nurses who work long hours or other adverse work schedules, risk of obesity is related to lack of opportunity for exercise and sleep, according to a study.
Alison M. Trinkoff, RN, ScD, and colleagues at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, analyzed data on more than 1,700 female nurses. The study focused on factors related to obesity in nurses with adverse work schedules, meaning long hours, high work burden, required on-call/overtime or lack of rest.
Obesity-related factors were compared for approximately 700 nurses meeting those criteria versus 1,000 nurses with more favorable work schedules. About 55% of nurses in both groups were overweight or obese.
However, the risk factors for overweight or obesity differed between groups. In the group with adverse work schedules, nurses with obesity got less sleep, less restful sleep and less exercise. They also were more likely to care for children or dependents.
In contrast, for nurses with favorable work schedules, obesity was linked to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use, and more physical lifting of children or dependents. Factors reflecting job stress also affected obesity risk.
Long hours, shift work and other "nonstandard" work schedules have been linked to higher rates of obesity. For the many nurses who work such adverse schedules, special attention my be needed to prevent obesity and protect health, according to the researchers.
"Adverse work schedules may be an overriding work-related factor for nurse obesity," the researchers wrote. In addition to lack of opportunities for healthy behaviors, nurses with adverse schedules may have difficulty accessing healthy foods, the authors posited.
These nurses may need extra support to prevent obesity and its adverse health effects, according to the researchers: "In particular, for nurses with unfavorable work schedules, organizations should support improving schedules and promote the ability to practice healthy behaviors."
The study is scheduled for publication in the August issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. To read the abstract and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/OUrfXw.
Alison M. Trinkoff, RN, ScD, and colleagues at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, analyzed data on more than 1,700 female nurses. The study focused on factors related to obesity in nurses with adverse work schedules, meaning long hours, high work burden, required on-call/overtime or lack of rest.
Obesity-related factors were compared for approximately 700 nurses meeting those criteria versus 1,000 nurses with more favorable work schedules. About 55% of nurses in both groups were overweight or obese.
However, the risk factors for overweight or obesity differed between groups. In the group with adverse work schedules, nurses with obesity got less sleep, less restful sleep and less exercise. They also were more likely to care for children or dependents.
In contrast, for nurses with favorable work schedules, obesity was linked to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use, and more physical lifting of children or dependents. Factors reflecting job stress also affected obesity risk.
Long hours, shift work and other "nonstandard" work schedules have been linked to higher rates of obesity. For the many nurses who work such adverse schedules, special attention my be needed to prevent obesity and protect health, according to the researchers.
"Adverse work schedules may be an overriding work-related factor for nurse obesity," the researchers wrote. In addition to lack of opportunities for healthy behaviors, nurses with adverse schedules may have difficulty accessing healthy foods, the authors posited.
These nurses may need extra support to prevent obesity and its adverse health effects, according to the researchers: "In particular, for nurses with unfavorable work schedules, organizations should support improving schedules and promote the ability to practice healthy behaviors."
The study is scheduled for publication in the August issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. To read the abstract and access the study via subscription or purchase, visit http://bit.ly/OUrfXw.
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