The Relationship Between Caloric Intake and Body Composition in Shift-working Healthcare Employees
Undergraduates: Elizabeth Thompson, Meredith G. Mock, Alexis A. Pihoker, Kara C. Anderson Abbie E. Smith-Ryan
Faculty Advisor: Abbie E. Smith-Ryan
Department: Exercise & Sport Science
Lack of sleep, stress, and processed food consumption have been shown to compromise gastrointestinal (GI) health. PURPOSE: To explore the potential relationship between nutritional intake and body composition in hospital shift workers. METHODS: Twenty-eight female (Mean ¿¿ SD; Age: 30.7 ¿¿ 8.7 yrs; Height: 165.0 ¿¿ 6.7 cm; Weight: 66.9 ¿¿ 10.9 kg) rotating or night shift healthcare workers volunteered for the current study. Participants completed a 3-day food log to reflect habitual protein (PRO), fat, carbohydrate (CHO), and daily caloric intake. Body composition variables [fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), and percent body fat (%BF)] were measured via bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy. Regional fat distribution was estimated using visceral fat depth from ultrasound (VAT) and waist-to-hip ratio (WH). The Harris Benedict equation was used to calculate estimated energy requirements (EER). RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between PRO, fat, CHO, or total calories and body composition outcomes (p>0.05). Visceral fat was significantly related to WH (R=0.647, p<0.001). Evaluation of total caloric intake and EER suggests that a majority of participants under-consumed calories (61%). CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expectation, dietary intake was not significantly related to body composition variables. This suggests that other factors such as stress, impaired sleep cycles, or inconsistent food consumption may influence body composition and fat distribution in shift workers.