An American study shows that people working shift schedules are more likely to suffer from obesity, insomnia and diabetes than those working traditional schedules.
Working at night, on weekends, in 2 shifts 8, so many types of schedules to which employees must adapt. The link between night work and poor health is not new, and a recent study has hammered home the point.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine in the United States have shown that working shift schedules can lead to obesity, sleep disturbances and heart problems. They investigated the health implications of working non-standard hours and how it affects sleep, weight, and diabetes risk. The results of this study were published in the American journal Sleep health.
80% of overweight employees working staggered hours
The study, led by Marjory L. Givens, focused on a Wisconsin state survey of 1,593 people, between 2008 and 2012. The participants underwent a physical exam to establish their body mass index (BMI). ). Another group of 1,400 people with type 2 diabetes was also assessed. The research team also determined the participants’ sleep patterns through an interview.
The researchers found that nearly half of employees with staggered schedules were overweight, compared to a third of those who had a traditional schedule, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Insomnia affects nearly a quarter of employees in “shifted” against 16.3% of traditional employees. More than one in two workers working atypical hours said they lacked sleep compared to 43% in the other group.
The hospital environment more affected
“Observational studies cannot prove causation, but there is enough evidence to suggest that staggered hours can be harmful to health,” said Javier Nieto, one of the study’s researchers. Marjory L. Givens specifies that the workers in “shifted” are most often men, minorities and people with a low level of education, who work in hospital environment or in industries “.
Sleep is vital to the body since it is restorative and regulator. Sleeping allows the body to balance hormonal and metabolic secretions and in particular to control blood sugar and appetite. This is why the researchers urge employers to mitigate the effects of atypical working hours on the heart health of their employees and to reduce health disparities within the working population.
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