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Changing jobs how to take care of your diet and body weight

Homepage Articles Changing jobs how to take care of your diet and body weight

Changing jobs how to take care of your diet and body weight

Changing work is an integral part of the modern labour market.Although it provides continuity in the work of many industries, it can adversely affect workers' health.Diurnal rhythm disorders and irregular meals, characteristic of this model, often lead to changes in body weight and dietary habits.Understanding these dependencies and awareness of their consequences are therefore key to effectively developing strategies to support healthy lifestyles and well-being for people working during off-peak hours.

Table of Contents

1. Shift work and daily rhythm

Shift work, especially at night, has a significant impact on the body's natural daily rhythm, which regulates sleep, metabolism and hormone release. The human body is adapted to daytime activity and nighttime rest, so changing this pattern can adversely affect health. One of the most common effects of shift work is impaired sleep quality. Shift workers often sleep shorter and less efficiently, causing chronic fatigue and difficulty in regenerating the body. Over time, this can also lead to impaired immunity, problems with concentration and productivity at work.

2. Change jobs and physical and mental health

Shifting is challenging for both physical and mental health because it involves adjusting to irregular hours of work that disrupt the body's natural daily rhythm. Such disorders can lead to health problems, affect body performance, regeneration, and emotional stability.

3. Physical health

Irregular working hours can lead to serious cardiovascular dysfunction and thus increase the risk of developing hypertension or cardiomyopathy. Inadequate regeneration resulting from irregular working hours also lowers the body's immunity, which in turn increases susceptibility to infections and other diseases. Additionally, disruption of the natural circadian rhythm can have a negative impact on metabolic health and increase risk of many civilization diseases, including type 2 diabetes obesity (J. P. Chaput and co. 2023).

4. Mental health

Alternate work is associated with higher levels of mental stress. Sleep disorders, chronic fatigue and difficulties in maintaining work-life balance can lead to mood deterioration, anxiety, and, in the long run, depression. Additionally, an irregular work mode restricts time spent with loved ones, which can impair emotional support, which is key to maintaining mental stability. Chronic work-related stress can also promote burnout (L. Torquati et al., 2019).

5. Whether shift work can lead to weight problems

Because of the daily rhythm disorders associated with shift work, people living in this mode may experience serious difficulties in maintaining a healthy body weight. Research suggests that shiftwork, especially done at night, can increase the risk of being overweight and obese by 23% (A. K. Chapman and so on, 2022). The effect is primarily on the release of the appetite-regulating hormones leptin and ghrelin. Leptin controls satiety, whereas ghrelin is responsible for the recovery of hunger. In this way, shifting body rhythms can significantly increase the body's metabolism from body weight to body weight and body weight, which can lead to a significantly longer and longer life span.

6. How to counteract the negative effects of shift work

To minimize the negative effects of shift work and to take care of health, it is worth implementing several practical strategies.

7. Make sure your meals are regular

While working hours may be irregular, it's important to try to maintain regular meals.. eating three main meals a day and 1 2 of valuable snacks will help you maintain energy and prevent overeating.. try to eat at regular intervals, even if work forces you to eat late at night.

8. Choose a full meal

In shift work, it is easy to get fast food, ready meals or sweet snacks that give you a quick injection of energy but are poor in nutritional value. Be mindful of protein-rich foods (e.g. eggs, lean meat, legumes), fiber (full-grain products, vegetables, fruits) and unsaturated fatty acids (nuts, avocados, olive oil).

9. Make a supply of healthy snacks

When shift work forces you to eat at unusual hours, it's good to have healthy snacks on hand that you can take to work -- nuts, natural yogurt, fruits, vegetables, or whole grain crackers -- avoid high-processed foods rich in saturated fats, sugar, and salt -- they can cause a rapid increase in blood glucose and then a decrease in it, which keeps you full for a long time and increases your hunger.

10. Drink the right amount of water

We often forget to get adequate hydration, especially during shift work. Water is essential for maintaining proper functioning of the body, so remember to get hydrated regularly. Avoid excessive sources of caffeine such as coffee or energy drinks, as they can disrupt sleep. It is recommended that you do not drink caffeinated products for at least 6 hours before going to bed.

11. Avoid heavy meals before bed

In shift work, it's easy to get rich, fatty meals just before bedtime, especially at work at night, but heavy meals, high in fat and salt, can negatively affect sleep quality and lead to digestive problems and unpleasant stomach upsets. Instead, choose lightly digested meals that help your digestion and allow you to rest.

12. Take Care of Your Mental Health

Changing your daily rhythm can affect your emotional state lead to stress, anxiety, or trouble concentrating. Take proper rest and relaxation to minimize the psychological effects of shift work. Meditation, breathing techniques, hobbies, or conversations with loved ones can help maintain mental balance, which indirectly contributes to maintaining healthy eating habits.

13. Increase your physical activity

Although shift work can be exhausting, regular physical activity is essential for maintaining health and balance - such as short walks, stretching exercises, or strength training - which can help improve circulation, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy weight.

14. Make sure you get the right amount of sleep

In spite of shift work, try to manage your daily schedule in such a way that you get the right number of hours of sleep. This will allow your body to regenerate and regain strength. In summary, the key to health care in shift work is proper dietary organization, eating habits and taking care of physical and mental well-being. Regular meals, healthy eating, proper hydration and physical activity are the basic elements that will help you take care of your health despite your off-peak hours.
Source

Chaput J.P. et al., The role of insufficient sleep and circadian misalignment in obesity, „Nature Reviews Endocrinology” 2023, 19(2), 82–97.
Kozłowska A. et al., Zaburzenia metaboliczne i inne schorzenia u pracowników zmianowych – przegląd aktualnych badań, „Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu” 2022, 28(1), 40–47. Khosravipour M. et al., A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between shift work and metabolic syndrome: The roles of sleep, gender, and type of shift work, „Sleep Medical Reviews” 2021, 57, 101427.
McHill A.W., Wright K.P. Jr., Role of sleep and circadian disruption on energy expenditure and in metabolic predisposition to human obesity and metabolic disease, „Obesity Reviews” 2017, 18 (1), 15–24.
Torquati L. et al., Shift Work and Poor Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Studies, „American Journal of Public Health” 2019, 109(11), 13–20.