Weight Gain and Work Shift - Essay Example

Order# 287277 and Number WEIGHT GAIN AND WORK SHIFT Hypothesis: The potential for gaining weight is higher when work is for a night shift rather than day and evening shift. Introduction Weight gain is primarily associated with the amount of food intake. Substantial weight gain however can be linked to a variety of biological factors in addition to food intake. The biological issues are naturally relative to the human anatomical set and the corresponding physiological functioning. Normally, the human body size is equated with the amount of food to be taken to ensure normal physiological functions which is the innate body biorhythm. Nonetheless, many experts found that physiological functioning of the different components of the human anatomy may also be influenced by the body’s physiologic activities as a unit like physical exercise, mental exercise, and rest or sleep. Along this concept, human anatomic physiologic function can possibly be influenced by exertion of energy at work or kinetics. Conversely, the innate biorhythm rationally follows an innate biological clock (Knutsson 106-107; Vitaterna 85; Benington 3 ). Conventionally, the innate biological clock have more often been overlooked and set aside by its anatomic owner because of changes in lifestyle, and because of economic developments which is now more of intensified productivity to cope with increasing demand. Consequently, organizational operations maybe 24/7, which requires at most 3 different sets of workers. So, there are those that are assigned to day shift. There are also separate set of workers assigned for the evening shift. And, another set is assigned for the night shift. The workers assigned for the day shift are the most likely set of people who obeys the law of nature in terms of meeting the number of hours for rest at a particular time of the night that the body has been accustomed to while growing up. Thus, given that the same set of people eats at regular interval, a balance diet, then, biological physiologic functions of the body can be presumed to run normal as well as body size and weight. Conversely, the potential for gaining weight is higher when work is for a night shift rather than day and evening shift Body Experts in the field of medicine and psychology believed that vastly mechanized sectors of societies greatly underpin frequency of alterations in dietary conditions of people (Becker 1092). This is supported by the very common observation that in vastly mechanized societies, speed in movements and transactions is the essence. The swiftness of developments and deals are facilitated with the strategy of 24/7 business operations. Although there is an abundance of ready to eat meals, but, one has to eat when there is a chance to have siesta. The timing of eating regular balance diet is often lost, coupled with the haste required to do things. Often, siesta is not fixed, and some would forego it to make use of their time to earn more. Work shifts have even become a trend. There are those who work two shifts at a time, there are those who spend 24 hours on call like medical practitioners. Overall, stress, tension, and fatigue in this living environment would richly influence food intake, mental, and physical balance. This could be allegorized to a mother who personally takes care of her domestic world, plus a newborn suckling. Usually, this type of mother will wind up overweight. On the contrary, there are wives who have no children. And, if ever they have, it is usually limited to 1 or two siblings, plus the husband in an affluent living. Usually, these types of wives would be more conscious of their physical make-up, sometimes resulting to underweight body. Overweight or underweight has been categorized as a depressive disorder. Hence, could be linked to social practices, personal behavioral practices, and mental development, inheritance, and neurochemical imbalances within the human body (Belmaker 55). This was supported by one key supposition of depression identified as the monoamine-deficiency hypothesis. Monoamine metabolites produced low levels of norepinephrine between the internal jugular vein and the brachial artery (Belmaker 56). Belmaker and Agam suggest that in a study among monozygotic and dizygotic twins 37% revealed genetic inheritance as a factor. The disorder is commonly known as anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by refusal of food intake, while bulimia nervosa is the reverse (Becker et al. 1092). Bulimia nervosa is characterized by binge eating and subsequent purging. Approximately 50% of anorexia nervosa victims end up in death, and 50% recovery. In the United States alone, an estimated 0.56% women die of the disease yearly. Both disorders however exhibited an estimated 30% partial recovery, but, unfortunately approximately 20% remained with the disorder despite medical and psychiatric attention (Becker et al. 1092). Studies revealed that behavior and physiology of majority of the species are directed by the biological clock effecting circadian rhythm (Knutsson 53; Vitaterna 85). In human beings this anatomical structures which are biologically known as suprachiasmatic (SCN) nuclei are located at the anterior hypothalamus at the base of the brain. Subsequent in vitro studies of lungs, liver, and other anatomical tissues showed that circadian rhythm continue despite the tissues separation from the human body. Clearly, the circadian rhythm is naturally designed to allow cells and tissues to adjust accordingly. From the anterior hypothalamus, the suprachiasmatic (SCN) nuclei emit neural signals in the form of neurohormones which are delivered by the blood to specific destinations (Knutsson 103; Vitaterna 85). The neurohormones were found to be genes, or more specifically Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which will be transcribed to make mRNA, an expression of the gene, and translated into proteins called hormones. These hormones are dictatorial in nature. They act as messengers between and among cells, manipulating the metabolic activities of the cells (Smith, Betancourt, and Sun 203, 205; Mader 44). The genes or Deoxyribonucleic acid, which will be transcribed to make mRNA, an expression of the gene, may also be translated into proteins called enzymes. Specific enzymes join specific reactants making chemical reactions at a faster rate, creating specific products at body temperature (Mader 44). However, disturbances in the circadian rhythm connote harm or damage on human health. So, the internal and external environments of the human body must essentially be in synchrony for healthy existence. Otherwise, an intricacy in terms of shift work, disrupting the natural system responsible for the regulation of sleeping time augurs potential consequential health failures such as damage in cognition and abnormal hormone level and function (Knutsson 106; Vitaterna et al., 85). More specifically, fractional or incomplete slumber initiates inability of the human system to take glucose, apart from antagonism to insulin which will lead to an illness called diabetes (Yaggi, Araujo, and McKinlay 637). Chronobiology study in humans conducted by Jurgen Aschoff revealed that secretion of hormones takes place at separate rhythms throughout the day resulting to some physiological functions like the different stages of sleep as was studied by Nathaniel Klietman (Vitaterna 1). Consequently, sleep deficiency is now commonly associated with some homeostatic problems. These are setbacks on the maintenance of a relatively steady condition of internal balance between interconnected physiological, psychological or social issues characteristic of an individual resulting to deviations in physiological functions. Some physiologic function that is directed by homeostasis is body mass, concentration of various nutrients in the tissues, and wastes products (Benington 481). In a more recent study, the hormone melatonin has been found to have some indications of influencing weight gain for night shift workers. This was linked to the findings of an experiment on rodents showing short photoperiod exposures which resulted to weight gain among the animals (Viswanathan, Hankinson, and Schernhammer). Melatonin or modified amino acid is produced at higher levels by the pineal gland which is an endocrine organ of the brain at night clearly ruling the body to observe the circadian rhythm of sleep. But, melatonin has been commonly associated with the maturation of the sexual organs rather than weight gain. Weight gain could be safely associated with storage of unused carbohydrates in the form of glycogen, and it relationship to the amount of energy expended. Results: Deducing from the findings of the studies conducted by some experts as aforementioned, the domino effect of the disruption of the human biological clock or circadian rhythm which is initiated by the suprachiasmatic (SCN) nuclei at the anterior hypothalamus, means, primarily, interruptions on homeostatic systems with incomplete sleep as in nightly shift work, directly affecting metabolic pathways that drive the production and activation of hormones outside its normal tempo. (Normally you really don’t have to place a reference here because this was discussed in the body. This concept is embraced by 2nd paragraph, page 5, 1st sentence. Besides, the result contains all the information found in the body). In other words, results contain a brief summary only. Conclusion: The potential for gaining weight is higher when work is for a night shift rather than day and evening shift. At the moment, this was not conclusively associated to melatonin levels. However, the idea of weight gain at night shift could safely be linked to the amount of energy expended by the human body during the day considering the effect of environmental temperature. At night, energy expenditure could be lesser as the environment cools down and the amount of glycogen stored in excess of what was taken will remain in storage resulting to weight gain, which could be hugely manifested over a period of time with consistent night work.. (Kindly check your Scientific Method Project Guidelines which says’ “Choose to add your own opinion here as well”. This is supposedly your own opinion based on the set of knowledge you have stocked from years of studies on the Laws of Thermodynamics and Metabolism). Besides, this is a proof that you have the foundational concepts on the link among homeostasis, rest, metabolism, and circadian rhythm other than those of other people. Works Cited Becker, Anne E. et al. “Eating Disorders.” N EngL J Med Vol. 340 (1999): 1092. Belmaker, R. H. and Galila Agam. “Mechanisms of Disease: Major Depressive Disorder.” N EngL J Med 358 (2008): 55, 56. Benington, Joel H. "24 Homeostatic and Circadian Influences." Sleep Deprivation: Basic Science, Physiology, and Behavior.” New York: Marcel Dekker (2005). 481-506. Chen, Wynne, and Clete A. Kushida. "1 Perspectives." Sleep Deprivation: Basic Science, Physiology, and Behavior. New York: Marcel Dekker (2005): 1-30. Knutsson, Anders. “Health disorders of shift workers.” Occupational Medicine: Oxford University Press 53 (2003): 103-108 Kushida, Clete A. Sleep Deprivation: Basic Science, Physiology, and Behavior. New York: Marcel Dekker, 2005. Questia. 18 Apr. 2009 Pilcher, June J. "8 Shift Work." Sleep Deprivation: Basic Science, Physiology, and Behavior. New York: Marcel Dekker, (2005): 157-166. Mader, Sylvia S. Biology. 7th ed. U. S.: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, (2001): 897, 884, 38. Patel, Sanjay R. et al. Association Between Reduced Sleep and Weight Gain in Women. American Journal of Epidemiology Vol 164 (2006): 10 947-954. Saris, Wim HM. Sugars, Energy Metabolism, and Body Weight Control. The American Journal of Chemical Nutrition. www.ajcn.org, April 3, 2009. Smith, Roy G., Lorena Betancourt, and Yuxiang Sun. “Molecular Endocrinology and Physiology of the Aging Central Nevous System.” Endocrine Reviews 26(2002): 203-250. Suwazono, Yasushi et al. Shift Work Is a Risk Factor for Increased Blood Pressure in Japanese Men: A 14 Year Historical Cohort Study. hyper.ahajournals.org: April 3, 2009. Viswanathan, Akila N., Susan E. Hankinson, and Eva S. Schernhammer. Night Shift Work and the Risk of Endometrial Cancer. Cancer Res 67 (2007): (21). 10618. Vitaterna, Martha Hotz, Joseph S. Takahashi, and Fred W. Turek. "Overview of Circadian Rhythms." Alcohol Research & Health 25.2 (2001): 85. Wallace, Benjamin, and Leslie E. Fisher. "Day Persons, Night Persons, and Time of Birth: Preliminary Findings." Journal of Social Psychology 141.1 (2001): 111-118. Yaggi, Kiar H., Andre B. Araujo, and John B. McKinlay. “Sleep Duration as a Risk Factor for the Development of Type 2 Diabetes.” Diabetes Care Vol 29 (2006): 637. Read More