Nurses and Weight Gain
When we mention weight gain, bad and unhealthy habits quickly jump into our minds to be the first contributing factor. This can be true, however, some causes are not as well-understood. We can’t see these, or we don’t think of them as a cause from the start! So, if you are a nurse, you might be wondering: “My job is hard! I rarely find 5 minutes to rest. So, why am I gaining weight?”
That is how it looks: You are a nurse, you move a lot, your lifestyle is far from sedentary, and you still gain weight. Here, we are trying to mention some of the possible reasons for nurses’ weight gain problems. Let’s go!
Night Calls:
Night shifts are exhausting for many reasons. These reasons double if you have a stressful job such as nursing. You are awake most of the time, which in many cases is against your biological clock. You deal with emergencies and fight at the front. Have you ever wondered how this can cause weight gain?
Studies found that nurses who have night shifts are at greater risk to gain weight than those who have day shifts. This is mostly due to stress and lifestyle behaviors the nurses acquire at the hospital. At Columbus Weight Management we often teach out clients that extreme stress can tell the body to hold on to every single calorie you put into it!
Stress and Weight Gain:
Stress leads to weight gain. A simple equation with a main contributor: Cortisone. The more you are stressed, the more cortisone is released in your body. Which, in turn, increases your weight through many complex biological mechanisms. You may not have thought about this before. You may think “Hey, it just a job,” yet you may not realize how it will affect you in the long term.
Lifestyle behaviors:
After a 12 hours exhausting shift, what can be more pleasing than delicious food? You may be thinking this way while picturing burgers, drinks, and sweets. Well deserved, right?
But it is not about one shift or one meal. It is about every shift and every meal. This is your work style; you must develop an aware look of the process and find healthier ways to adapt.
So, How to Break the Cycle?
Nurses are soldiers; they are a strong defense line and form the backbone of any health care system. If you are a nurse, you must recognize how valuable you are to others and YOURSELF first!
To be a nurse means to care for others. You cannot do your job successfully if you do not take care of yourself. That said, instead of “I don’t have time” or “We, the nurse community, are like this,” find time to honor yourself during your down time. It feels good to be mindful of our body’s needs.
Your health matters.
Nurses encourage nurses! Share your experiences! We know that creating a healthy work-life balance is tough and looks like a fairy tale, but a first step with Columbus Weight Management can help you get your health journey off to a great start.
You Can Break the Cycle!
Start by preparing a colorful lunch box filled with vegetables, fruits, and healthy cooked proteins. This will be a good refreshment through your tough shift.
Don’t think of food as a reward! Find other ways to feel happy and satisfied at the end of the day. You may try yoga, meditation, video games, a cozy bath, or watching movies.
We teach our clients that if they want a cookie, have a cookie! Depriving yourself of one item can often resort to wanting the entire bag. This is one reason why diets like keto are not sustainable
Join weight management programs. Talk to other nurses and share your thoughts.
At Columbus Weight Management, many of our clients are nurses like yourself. They have taken the plunge and taken the one easy step they needed to reset their bodies.
Contact us today to take the lead in the management of your health and weight loss journey!
References:
Marquezea, E. C., Lemosa, L. C., Soaresa, N., Lorenzi-Filhob, G., & Morenoa, C. R. (2012). Weight gain in relation to night work among nurses. Work (Reading, Mass.), 41 Suppl 1, 2043–2048. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2012-0429-2043
Zapka, J. M., Lemon, S. C., Magner, R. P., & Hale, J. (2009). Lifestyle behaviours and weight among hospital-based nurses. Journal of nursing management, 17(7), 853–860. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2008.00923.x
