Night work and self-perceived body weight changes among nursing professionals

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate body weight changes in nursing workers on the night shift. Methodology: this quantitative, exploratory, descriptive study, conducted at a large federal hospital in Rio de Janeiro, after approval of the institution’s research ethi cs committee, considered socio-demographic variables, influence of the night work on the organism, and body mass index. Results: average weight gain among the 89 nursing workers was approximately 20kg since admission to night work, and nurses reported greater influence of lack of sleep on the body, and greater exhaustion as compared with data on the other categories. Conclusion: considering the hormonal disorders and social impacts of night work, it is essential to implement changes towards a culture of prevention, through either institutional programs or interventionist research able to develop measures that lead to self-recognition and promotion of nursing workers’ physical, mental and social wellbeing.