LAUSR

OBJECTIVE This study compared the body composition parameters between shift workers and non-shift workers in a hospital setting in Sri Lanka. METHODS A comparative cross-sectional study was carried out among a sample of 78 healthcare workers, recruited by a stratified random sampling technique. Subjects underwent anthropometric and bio-impedentiometric analysis for body composition parameters. RESULTS The mean (±SD) body fat percentage (BF%) of shift working women (40.8 ± 6.8%) was significantly higher than day working women (36.7 ± 5.9%) (P < 0.05). Mean BF% between day and shift groups did not significantly differ (33.0 ± 6.9% vs 32.4 ± 10.7%). Body mass index and waist circumference were significantly higher among shift working women (P < 0.05), while males showed the opposite trend. CONCLUSION Prolonged exposure to shift work was associated with a higher BF%. Therefore, interventions for shift workers must be addressed, focusing on improving body composition.