Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health (Oct 2024)

Associations of night shift work with weight gain among female nurses in The Netherlands: results of a prospective cohort study

  • Henriëtte M van Duijne,
  • Nina E Berentzen,
  • Roel CH Vermeulen,
  • Jelle J Vlaanderen,
  • Hans Kromhout,
  • Katarzyna Jóźwiak,
  • Anouk Pijpe,
  • Matti A Rookus,
  • Flora E van Leeuwen,
  • Michael Schaapveld

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.4185
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 50, no. 7
pp. 536 – 544

Abstract

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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/m^2) 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.

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