Does nite shift make you fat?

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When I was a new grad nurse starting nite shift, I had a doctor tell me to watch my weight on nite shift. SInce then, I have gained about 40 pounds , but I thought it was from the stress. Now that things have become more come comfortable to me, I still cont to gain. Then I looked around one nite and noticed that the majority of the nite shift nurses ARE overweight. There are some exceptions, but not many. If you're a nite shift nurse, how do you stay healthy? :uhoh3:

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I think it's behavior, not the shift. I've lost a lot of weight while on night shifts. I eat normal healthy foods, three meals, good snacks, avoid the vending machine and cookies...

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When I worked nights we often brought food to share and would graze all night long. I gained lots of weight. On days we don't do that because the mucky-mucks make rounds and we don't have our own break room in the department.

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I acutally lost weight due to night shift I think. (too much red bull). But my advise is say NOOOOOO! to the vending machines and ordering out. get a pedometer and try to walk the halls if you ever get any "free" time:roll

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Specializes in CCU,ICU,ER retired.

I lost 40 pounds when I went to days.

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I don't know if it makes you fat, but I sure am having a hell of time trying to lose weight while working night shift. No matter what I do, the weight doesn't come off.

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I do night shift and I'm not fat. That's because nobody ever brings any food in and if patients families do it day shift has normally scoffed it. Same goes for anything management does on nurses week and other occasions. The stuff that was "saved" for night shift gets eaten too.

I've never gained or lost a huge amount of weight from changing shifts.

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I was an odd one, too. Didn't gain any weight on nights... no lunch breaks like our day and evening shifts got, no open cafeteria or gift shop to buy munchies, and by the time I got home I was too tired to eat. At home I found myself sleeping through a lot of meals. Days was when I started gaining weight, Had a small breakfast on my way to work then I got a lunch break and "coffee" break, snacked when i got home and ate a full meal in the evening with hubby!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU, Neuro/Trauma stepdown.

i sometime wonder if staying up all night half the week and having a 'normal' schedule the other half of the week is what gets me...also, i'm still a student, have gained ungodly amounts since nursing school began and i'm thinking that when i'm out and not studying ten hours a day, maybe i will lose some....can anyone give me some reassurance?

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Specializes in tele, stepdown/PCU, med/surg.

I think people tend to gain weight on night shifts. Those who don't change weight are probably not prone to fluctuating a lot in weight anyway.

If stress is a factor, then that emotional connection to food comes to mind. Also, night shift makes people have a really hard time eating at appropriate times.

I work at night and have gained weight but I think it's also the season. I am easily affected by SAD here so I do better in the summer.

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