Scand J Work Environ Health 2024;50(7):536-544 pdf full text
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4185 | Published online: 02 Sep 2024, Issue date: 01 Oct 2024
Associations of night shift work with weight gain among female nurses in The Netherlands: results of a prospective cohort study
Objective This study aimed to prospectively investigate associations of working night shifts with weight gain in the Nightingale Study, a large cohort of female nurses.
Methods This study included 36 273 registered nurses, who completed questionnaires in 2011 and 2017. Cumulative number of nights, mean number of nights/month and consecutive number of nights/month in 2007–2011 were assessed. We used Poisson regression to estimate multivariable-adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) of >5% weight gain from 2011 to 2017 among all participants and assess risk of development of overweight/obesity (BMI≥25 kg/m2) among women with healthy baseline body mass index. The reference group consisted of women who never worked nights.
Results Overall, working night shifts in 2007–2011 was associated with >5% weight gain [IRR 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.13]. Associations differed by menopausal status in 2011, with an increased risk of gaining >5% weight limited to postmenopausal women who worked nights (IRR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.38). Postmenopausal women had an increased risk of >5% weight gain when they worked on average ≥4 nights/month (4–5: IRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.09–1.52, ≥6: IRR 1.27, 95% CI 1.11–1.47) or ≥4 consecutive nights/month (IRR 1.37, 95% CI 1.19–1.58), compared to postmenopausal women who never worked nights. For postmenopausal women with healthy weight at baseline, night shift work was associated with an increased risk of overweight/obesity at follow-up (IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.03–1.50).
Conclusions Working night shifts was associated with a slightly increased risk of weight gain and overweight/obesity development among women who were postmenopausal at study inclusion. Our findings emphasize the importance of health promotion to maintain a healthy weight among (postmenopausal) night workers.
Key terms BMI; body mass index; circadian rhythm; menopausal status; night shift; night work; nurse; nursing; obesity; occupational environment; occupational health; overweight; prospective cohort study; The Netherlands; weight gain