ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Shift work has become increasingly prevalent across various sectors, including heavy industry, public safety, and healthcare, with approximately 15% to 20% of the working population in Europe and North. While essential for maintaining continuous patient care, shift work poses challenges to the health and well-being of healthcare workers, including an increased risk of weight gain and associated health complications. Shift work has been linked to gastrointestinal disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and metabolic disorders, with potential mediators including disrupted circadian rhythm, sleep problems, stress, and lifestyle changes. In healthcare settings, nurses, doctors, and paramedics often work rotating or irregular shifts, facing disrupted sleep patterns and fatigue, which can impact their overall health and job performance. Obesity, a prevalent concern, is associated with absenteeism, healthcare costs, and various health conditions, highlighting the importance of addressing weight gain among shift workers. Strategies such as prioritizing sleep hygiene, promoting healthy eating habits, and supporting physical activity can mitigate the adverse effects of shift work on healthcare workers' health. Prioritizing the well-being of healthcare professionals is essential for ensuring high-quality patient care and maintaining a healthy workforce. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effect of shift work on BMI among healthcare workers and to determine the difference in BMI between shift workers and non-shift workers in UBTH. METHODOLOGY: The study conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) in Southern Nigeria aimed to investigate the impact of shift work on the weight gain of healthcare workers. A cross-sectional analytical design was employed to assess healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, and administrative staff, among others. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select participants from different professions. Sample size determination was based on Cochran's formula, resulting in a minimum sample size of 257. The study utilized questionnaires divided into sections covering socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and prevalence and intensity of shift work. Collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics such as mean, median, frequency, and percentages were used to summarize variables. The primary outcome measure was the effect of shift work on healthcare workers' weight gain, determined through Body Mass Index (BMI) calculations. RESULT: The response rate was 100%. Majority of the respondents were females and fell in the age group 31 – 39 years with a mean age of 38.9 years for non-shift workers and 37.9 for shift workers. Majority of the respondents had worked in the present facility for ≤ 10 years. More than half of the respondents (64.6%) engaged in shift work, with rotating shifts being common and nearly all respondents (93.4%) having experienced severe shift intensities, potentially impacting their well-being. Shift workers exhibit higher BMI compared to non-shift workers with 65.2% of shift workers and 34.8 of non- shift workers with BMI within 25.0-29.9 kg/m2 (over weight) while 55.4% of shift workers and 44.6% of non- shift workers with BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 (obese) indicating potential health risks associated with disrupted sleep and altered eating habits. These findings emphasize the importance of supporting healthy lifestyle behaviors among shift worker to mitigate obesity-related health issues. CONCLUSION: Shift work was common among health workers with a substantial portion experiencing severe shift intensities, potentially affecting their well-being. While most have normal BMI, shift workers tend to have higher BMI, likely due to disrupted sleep, altered eating habits, and increased stress. Keywords: Weight gain, Shift Work, BMI, Nightshift Workers, Non-Nightshift workers.
