Caloric intake and weight gain according to the shift schedule of shift workers

Survey involved 84 workers matched for age, socio-occupational and families status and divided into 3 groups : A : 27 shift workers on 3 days rotating shift, B : 47 shift workers on 5 days rotating shift, C : 20 days workers. Each subject was submitted to dietary survey by means of 24 hours recall, realised 3 times for shift workers and once for control. All workers were interviewed about caloric intake of the preceding day off caloric intake. Annual weight gain was studied through the use of occupational health service records. There was no significant difference between the 3 groups for working day caloric intake. Day-off intake was lower (p less than 0.05) in group A (day-off any day of the week). Annual weight gain was not different between the 3 groups. Shift workers with faster weight gain had a higher caloric intake on day-off and after evening meal.     

Sleep,sleepiness and need for recovery of industrial employees after a change from an 8- to a 12-hour shift system

Employees often prefer 12-hour work shifts but they can increase sleepiness and injury risk. We assessed whether sleep, sleepiness, satisfaction and need for recovery changed after changing from an 8-hour to a 12-hour shift system. The participants were 178 employees of the paper, pulp and chemical industries. Using a quasi-experimental controlled intervention design, 83 employees, who changed from an 8-hour shift schedule to a 12-hour shift schedule were compared to those who remained in the 8-hour shift schedule (n=95). Participants filled in a survey on sleep, sleepiness, satisfaction and need for recovery at baseline and 9–12 months after the shift schedule change. We used generalized estimation equation models adjusted for age, sex, shift work experience in years and baseline shift system. Sleep length was longer in the 12-hour shift schedule before the first morning shift and between morning shifts. Sleepiness during morning shifts was less frequent and satisfaction with the shift system was more prevalent in the 12-hour shift schedule. Also, perceived negative associations of the current shift system with work-life balance were less common in the 12-hour shift schedule. The differences found between the shift systems were minor and the results did not indicate significant disadvantages of the 12-hour fast forward-rotating shift system.     

Obesity and weight gain among former World Trade Center workers and volunteers

A high prevalence of obesity has been observed among former World Trade Center (WTC) workers and volunteers. We hypothesized that unemployment and disability status would predict obesity. We surveyed 220 participants at the [INST] Mount Sinai WTC Clinical Center to assess their obesity and current employment and disability status, WTC occupational exposure level, medical comorbidities, and dietary and exercise habits. Bivariate and logistic regression multivariate analyses were used to explore associated risk factors. Obesity was associated with active employment status. Other significant covariates included non-Latino African American race, having a high number of comorbid chronic diseases, low exercise frequency, and not drinking any glass of juice daily. The association of obesity with active employment suggests that interventions that favor healthy habits among actively employed individuals are warranted.     

Effects of shift work on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and its variability among Japanese workers

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of rotating shift work on blood pressure in a comparison of ambulatory blood pressure and long-term changes in blood pressure between shift and day workers. METHODS: Ambulatory blood pressure was measured for 24-hour periods at an interval of 30 minutes for 27 shift workers and 26 day workers when they worked during the day. Blood pressure was compared between these 2 groups of workers for 4 time categories (awake, sleep, nonwork awake, and work periods). Their long-term blood pressures, recorded in annual surveys, were reviewed for long-term changes. These comparisons were adjusted for the effects of body mass index, alcohol intake, anger expression, and physical activity. RESULTS: On the average, sleep time was shorter and the anger-in (ie, anger suppressed) score was higher for the shift workers than for the day workers, but body mass index and alcohol intake did not differ between the 2 groups. Even after adjustment for these co-variables, the mean systolic blood pressure during the 24-hour, awake, and work periods were higher among the shift workers than among the day workers. The 24-hour standard deviations of the systolic blood pressures were also higher for the shift workers than for the day workers. Among the shift workers, but not among the day workers, a significant long-term increase was observed in systolic blood pressure measured in the annual surveys. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that shift work may increase systolic blood pressure levels among Japanese men.     

Work-life balance among shift workers: results from an intervention study about self-rostering

Purpose

The aims of the study were to explore the effects of the implementation of IT-based tools for planning of rosters among shift workers on work-family-related outcomes and to interpret the results in light of the different implementation processes.

Methods

A quasi-experimental intervention study was conducted with 12-month follow-up at 14 intervention and 14 reference worksites in Denmark. Workplaces planning to introduce IT-supported self-rostering were recruited, and three different kinds of interventions were implemented. Intervention A and B aimed at increasing workers satisfaction and well-being, while intervention C was designed to optimize the personnel resources. Questionnaire data were collected from 840 employees at baseline and 784 at follow-up. Process evaluation encompassed interviews with about 25 employees and 15 managers at baseline and follow-up. Work-family-related outcomes were work-life conflicts, work-life facilitation, marital conflicts and time with children.

Results

An overall decline in work-family conflicts and increase in work-family facilitation were found in the total intervention group. More specifically, in group B, work-family conflicts and marital conflicts decreased while work-family facilitation increased. In group C, work-family conflicts increased while work-family facilitation and time spend with children decreased, and no significant changes were observed in the reference group and in group A.

Conclusion

An overall positive effect of the implementation of self-rostering was found on the balance between work and private life. However, results from the process evaluation suggested that the organizational aim with the intervention was crucial for the effect.     

Does smoking cessation lead to weight gain? The experience of asbestos-exposed shipyard workers.

We examined the relationship between smoking cessation and weight change in a sample of 373 asbestos-exposed workers who had participated in a smoking cessation program. Those who quit smoking for one year and those who quit for shorter periods gained significantly more weight than those who continued to smoke. Those with initially poorer health and those who quit to avoid illness gained less weight.     

Elevated blood pressure, decreased heart rate variability and incomplete blood pressure recovery after a 12-hour night shift work

Shift work has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to determine the hemodynamic effects of 12-hour (12-h) shifts, and changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) during 36 h rest time following 12-h shifts. Fifteen male shift workers with a mean age of 32.9 yr were recruited from a semiconductor factory. Ambulatory BP (AmBP) monitoring was performed for a total of 48 h for each participant. Six workers were monitored for 48 h by Holter electrocardiogram on both the day and night shifts. Paired self-comparison was used to estimate the difference between two hourly measurements of 12-h BP, HR, and HRV using the same timetable intra-individually. We also applied mixed models to estimate the effects of 12-h shifts on the delayed recovery of BP and heart rate (HR) in six workers who completed 96-h AmBP monitoring, including a 48-h night shift-rest period and another day shift period. Results showed that 12-h night shift work gave a persistently elevated systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) and HR, and decreased HRV compared to 12-h day shift work with the corresponding resting time. In addition, there was delayed SBP and DBP recovery on the first 12-h rest time in night shift workers, which was further demonstrated on the second 12-h rest time after adjustment for possible confounders through mixed models. In conclusion, 12-h night shift work may elevate BP and HR and decrease HRV. It is also associated with delayed BP recovery.     

中国西南城乡妇女孕前体重及孕期增重评价研究

目的评价中国西南地区城乡妇女孕前体重及孕期增重状况。方法采用分层随机整群抽样法选取昆明、贵阳和成都地区城乡3391名6~24月龄婴幼儿母亲为研究对象,通过问卷调查收集其孕前身高、孕前体重、产前体重及孕龄等信息,依据WHO成人BMI分类标准和美国IOM孕期增重推荐值(2009)评价孕前体重和孕期增重。结果孕前BMI平均为(20.3±2.4),孕前体重正常、消瘦和超重肥胖率分别为72.7%、24.1%和3.2%。孕期增重平均为(14.9±6.0)kg,城市(16.2±5.9)kg高于农村(13.5±5.7)kg(P0.05);孕期增重适宜、不足和过多率分别为35.3%、31.1%和33.3%;孕期增重过多率城市(40.9%)高于农村(26.1%)(P0.05);孕期增重不足率农村(41.4%)高于城市(20.9%)(P0.05);23岁以下年龄组孕期增重不足率较高,24~34岁年龄组孕期增重过多率较高。结论中国西南城乡妇女孕前体重不足和孕期增重问题非常突出。     

Food supplementation with encouragement to feed it to infants from 4 to 12 months of age has a small impact on weight gain.

It is unclear whether a substantial decline in malnutrition among infants in developing countries can be achieved by increasing food availability and nutrition counseling without concurrent morbidity-reducing interventions. The study was designed to determine whether provision of generous amounts of a micronutrient-fortified food supplement supported by counseling or nutritional counseling alone would significantly improve physical growth between 4 and 12 mo of age. In a controlled trial, 418 infants 4 mo of age were individually randomized to one of the four groups and followed until 12 mo of age. The first group received a milk-based cereal and nutritional counseling; the second group monthly nutritional counseling alone. To control for the effect of twice-weekly home visits for morbidity ascertainment, similar visits were made in one of the control groups (visitation group); the fourth group received no intervention. The median energy intake from nonbreast milk sources was higher in the food supplementation group than in the visitation group by 1212 kJ at 26 wk (P < 0.001), 1739 kJ at 38 wk (P < 0.001) and 2257 kJ at 52 wk (P < 0.001). The food supplementation infants gained 250 g (95% confidence interval: 20--480 g) more weight than did the visitation group. The difference in the mean increment in length during the study was 0.4 cm (95% confidence interval: -0.1--0.9 cm). The nutritional counseling group had higher energy intakes ranging from 280 to 752 kJ at different ages (P < 0.05 at all ages) but no significant benefit on weight and length increments. Methods to enhance the impact of these interventions need to be identified.     

Changes in whole-grain, bran, and cereal fiber consumption in relation to 8-y weight gain among men

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies that directly examine changes in whole-grain consumption in relation to weight gain are sparse, and characterization of this association has been obscured by methodologic inconsistencies in the assessment of whole grains. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to ascertain the associations between changes in new quantitative estimates of whole-grain intake and 8-y weight gain among US men. DESIGN: The study was conducted in a prospective cohort of 27 082 men aged 40-75 y at baseline in 1986. Data on lifestyle factors were obtained periodically by using self-reported questionnaires, and participants measured and reported their body weight in 1986 and 1994. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, an increase in whole-grain intake was inversely associated with long-term weight gain (P for trend < 0.0001). A dose-response relation was observed, and for every 40-g/d increment in whole-grain intake from all foods, weight gain was reduced by 0.49 kg. Bran that was added to the diet or obtained from fortified-grain foods further reduced the risk of weight gain (P for trend = 0.01), and, for every 20 g/d increase in intake, weight gain was reduced by 0.36 kg. Changes in cereal and fruit fiber were inversely related to weight gain. No associations were observed between changes in refined-grain or added germ consumption and body weight. CONCLUSIONS: The increased consumption of whole grains was inversely related to weight gain, and the associations persisted after changes in added bran or fiber intakes were accounted for. This suggests that additional components in whole grains may contribute to favorable metabolic alterations that may reduce long-term weight gain.     

Cross shift changes in lung function among bar and restaurant workers before and after implementation of a smoking ban

Objective

To study possible cross shift effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on pulmonary function among bar and restaurant employees before and after the implementation of a smoking ban in Norway.

Methods

The study included 93 subjects employed in 13 different establishments in Oslo. They were examined at the beginning and end of a workshift both while ETS exposure was present and when smoking was banned. The mean exposure level of nicotine and total dust before the ban was 28 μg/m³ (range 3–65) and 275 μg/m³ (range 81–506), respectively. Following the smoking ban, the mean level of nicotine and total dust was 0.6 μg/m³ and 77 μg/m³, respectively. Assessment of lung function included dynamic lung volumes and flows.

Results

The cross shift reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC) among 69 subjects participating in both examinations changed from 81 ml (SD 136) during exposure to ETS to 52 ml (SD 156) (p = 0.24) following the smoking ban. The reduction in forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) during a workshift, was borderline significantly reduced when comparing the situation before and after the intervention, by 89 ml (SD = 132) compared to 46 ml (SD = 152) (p = 0.09), respectively. The reduction in forced mid‐expiratory flow rate (FEF_25–75%) changed significantly from 199 ml/s (SD = 372) to 64 ml/s (SD = 307) (p = 0.01). Among 26 non‐smokers and 11 asthmatics, the reduction in FEV1 and FEF_25–75% was significantly larger during ETS exposure compared to after the smoking ban. There was an association between the dust concentration and decrease in FEF_25–75% before the ban among non‐smokers (p = 0.048).

Conclusions

This first study of cross shift changes before and after the implementation of a smoking ban in restaurants and bars shows a larger cross shift decrease in lung function before compared with after the implementation of the ban.     

Dietary restraint and self-esteem as predictors of weight gain over an 8-year time period

The study aimed to assess dietary restraint and self-esteem as predictors of weight change over a time period of 8 years. Questionnaires assessing self-reported weight, body dissatisfaction, dietary restraint, and self-esteem were completed by 77 young adults (19 men and 58 women) on two occasions separated by 8 years. On average, participants gained approximately 6 kg over the 8 years. Although neither dietary restraint nor self-esteem predicted weight change on its own, their interaction did. Furthermore, the relationship between restraint and weight change was best described as curvilinear. It was concluded that dietary restraint is predictive of subsequent weight gain, but in a more complex way than previously assumed.     

孕前BMI和孕期增重对产后1年内体重滞留的影响研究

目的探索妇女孕前体重及孕期增重对产后体重滞留的影响。方法采用历史-前瞻性队列研究设计,选择合肥市某区的产后妇女作为观察对象,于产后3个月建立观察队列,通过孕期保健档案和信息系统获取产前检查信息,于产后3、6、9和12个月连续观察。观察指标包括基线资料、孕前体重和孕期增重、产后一年内不同时间点的体重。结果产后3、6、9和12个月时BMI恢复到正常范围者所占的比例分别为61.92%、68.73%、78.18%和84.24%。孕前BMI不同的妇女孕期增重和体重滞留在3、6、9和12个月各个时间点上均存在差异,孕前BMI较高组与孕前BMI适中组、孕前BMI较低组分别进行比较,差异具有统计学意义。孕期增重和时间对产后体重的恢复均具有独立的效应,但两者之间不存在交互效应。结论孕前BMI、孕期体重增加是产后体重滞留的重要因素。根据孕前BMI指导孕期合理体重增加,能减少产后体重滞留,促进产后恢复。     

Occupational exposure and 12-year spirometric changes among Paris area workers.

A follow-up study over 12 years was conducted among 556 men aged 30 to 54 in 1960 and working at that time in factories around Paris (France). Various occupational exposures were recorded at the time of the 1960 survey after a technical study of each workplace. The annual rate of decline of FEV1 during 12 years was estimated for each subject from the measurements in 1960 and 1972. This rate (the FEV1 slope) was related independently of FEV1 level (which reflects the loss since the beginning of adult life) and of smoking habits to occupational exposure to dust, gases, and heat. FEV1 slope was significantly related to inhalation of mineral dust (even in the absence of silica) as well as to grain dust, and the slope was steeper with increased intensity of exposure to dust. Analysis of job changes showed that among heavily exposed subjects, those who changed jobs had a less steep slope than those who did not. Our results support the hypothesis of a causal role of exposure to dust in the development of chronic airflow obstruction and of a benefit when exposure to dust ceases. Exposure to dust, gas, and heat usually occurred together so data on gas and heat were analysed after taking account of exposure to dust. The influence of heat on FEV1 decline showed a clear trend. Results suggest that exposure to gases associated with exposure to dust or heat or both had a deleterious effect. After adjusting for age, smoking, and FEV1 level (ASLA) the following average slopes were obtained: 44 ml/a (for exposure to none or to only a slight amount of dust, or to gases alone), 51 ml/a (heat), 53 ml/a (noticeable dust), 55 ml/a (noticeable dust and heat), 60 ml/a (noticeable dust, heat, and high concentration of gases). Independently of the occupational exposures, ASLA FEV1 slopes among manual workers were related to skill, being 44 ml/a for skilled and 51 ml/a for unskilled men. Independently of social class and occupational exposures recorded, there were differences in FEV1 slopes by factory, suggesting that one should not rely on using one factory as the control of studies of occupational exposure to another.     

The prevalence of exposure to high molecular weight asthmagens derived from plants among workers in Australia

Background

Limited information is available on exposure to high molecular weight (HMW) asthmagens derived from plants and on the main occupations and tasks that result in such exposure among workers.

Methods

Data were collected as part of the Australian Work Exposures Study—Asthma. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) using modified Poisson regression models to determine which factors were associated with exposure.

Results

A 12.8% of 4878 workers were exposed to HMW asthmagens derived from plants. The highest prevalence of exposure was found among farmers/animal workers, education workers, and food processing workers. The main circumstances of exposure were through handling flour, freesias, or through raising livestock. Exposure was more common among female workers (aPR = 1.26, 1.10‐1.43) than males, while it was lower among workers born overseas (aPR = 0.70, 0.57‐0.86) than those born in Australia.

Conclusion

Prevention of exposure to HMW asthmagens derived from plants requires a broad strategy targeting different tasks and occupations.