Influence of Occupational Stress on the Body Mass Index of Hospital Workers: A Systematic Review

This systematic review aimed to identify the influence of occupational stress on the body mass index of hospital workers. After registering the protocol at PROSPERO (CRD42022331846), we started this systematic review following a search in seven databases, gray literature, as well as manual search and contact with specialists. The selection of studies was performed independently by two evaluators following the inclusion criteria: observational studies evaluating adult hospital workers, in which occupational stress was considered exposure and body composition as a result. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklist. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation to grade the certainty of the evidence. Qualitative results were presented and synthesized through a qualitative approach, with simplified information in a narrative form. A total of 12 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included. This review comprised 10,885 workers (2312 men; 1582 women; and 6991 workers whose gender was not identified). Ten studies were carried out only with health workers, and two included workers from other sectors besides health workers. This review showed a relationship between occupational stress and changes in body mass index in hospital workers. However, most studies presented a moderate or high risk of bias and low quality of the evidence. These findings can be useful for clinical practice, administrators and leaders and provide insights for future research in the field of worker health in the hospital setting.

Factors associated with extreme weight loss behaviors among adolescents of Northeastern Brazil: a hierarchical approach

The objective of this article is to identify the prevalence and evaluate the factors associated with extreme weight loss behaviors among adolescents of Northeastern Brazil. Cross-sectional study with 2,439 adolescents from Sample 2 (2015) of the National School-based Health Survey. Extreme weight loss behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, laxative use and use of medicines or formulas (outcome) and independent variables were evaluated using a self-administered electronic questionnaire. The statistical analysis was performed following a hierarchical conceptual model. The prevalence of extreme weight loss behaviors in the sample was 12.1%. Among the factors that showed significant association with the outcome, we emphasize the administration model of the private school (PR = 0.62; CI = 0.46-0.84), bullying related to body appearance and for other reasons (PR = 1.62; CI = 1.19-2.20), forced sexual intercourse (PR = 2.65; CI = 1.90-3.69), insomnia (PR = 1.84; CI = 1.43-2.37), and be perceived as fat or very fat (PR = 1.90; CI = 1.50-2.42). Moderate prevalence of extreme weight loss behaviors was identified among adolescents. Socioeconomic factors, exposure to violence, mental health, and body image were associated with the adoption of these behaviors.

Impact of cash transfer programs on birth and child growth outcomes: systematic review

To investigate the impact of cash transfer (CTs) on birth outcomes, including birth weight, low birth weight and prematurity, as well as child physical growth were included, as assessed by anthropometric indices in children under five years of age. Searching was performed using the PubMed/Medline, Embase, LILACS, Cochrane Library, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Quantitative observational, experimental and quasi-experimental. Eleven studies were included in the review. The majority (81.8%) were carried out in low-and middle-income countries and most involved conditional CTs (63.6%). Four were clinical trials and seven were observational studies. Conditional CTs were found to be associated with a reduction in height-for-age (-0.14; 95%CI -0.27, -0.02); (OR 0.85; 95%CI 0.77-0.94); (OR = 0.44; 95%CI 0.19-0.98), a significantly reduced chance of low weight-for-age (OR = 0.16; 95%CI -0.11-0.43), low weight-for-height (OR = -0.68; 95%CI -1.14, -0.21), and low weight-for-age (OR = 0.27; 95%CI 0.10; 0.71). Unconditional CTs were associated with reduced birth weight (RR = 0.71; 95%CI 0.63-0.81; p < 0.0001) and preterm births (RR = 0.76; 95%CI 0.69-0.84; p < 0.0001). Conditional CTs can positively influence birth outcomes and child growth.

Occupational Risks in Hospitals, Quality of Life, and Quality of Work Life: A Systematic Review

This study systematically reviewed the relationship between occupational risks and quality of life (QoL) and quality of work life (QWL) in hospitals. A systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide, and the protocol was submitted on the PROSPERO website (CRD 2019127865). The last search was performed in June 2021 by two independent reviewers in the main databases, a gray literature database, and a manual search (LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, Ovid). As eligibility criteria, we included observational studies, with adult hospital workers, with no restrictions on date and language, any type of instrument to assess QoL and QWL, any definition of QoL and QWL, and studies that presented the relationship between exposure and outcome. Newcastle–Ottawa was used to assess the methodological quality and RTI-Item Bank to assess the risk of bias. Given the impossibility of performing a meta-analysis, a qualitative synthesis was used to present the results. Thus, 11 studies met the criteria and were included in the review, with 6923 individuals aged 18 to 64 years. The studies were mainly carried out with health professionals (81.81%), women (63.60%), and in Asian countries (63.63%). All studies used different instruments and ways to categorize the QoL and QWL, and occupational risks. Only one study assessed occupational noise and another the ergonomic risk. All of them presented a relationship between occupational risk and quality of work life. They pointed to the need for measures to improve the lives of these professionals in the work environment. Therefore, studies show a relationship between occupational risks (noise, ergonomics, and stress) and workers’ perception of low or moderate quality of work life. However, more homogeneous studies are necessary for instruments, conceptualization, and categorization of quality of work life.

Evaluation of the Computer-Based Intervention Program Stayingfit Brazil to Promote Healthy Eating Habits: The Results from a School Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Interventions via the Internet are promising regarding the promotion of healthy habits among youth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an adapted version of StayingFit to promote healthy eating habits and the measurement adequacy of anthropometric markers among adolescents. A web school-based 12-month cluster-randomized controlled trial examining 7th to 9th grade students was conducted in twelve schools in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The schools’ students were randomly distributed into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in StayingFit, an online program designed to encourage and guide healthy eating habits and control body weight. Data on food consumption, anthropometry, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior were collected from all of the students at the beginning of and after the 12-month study. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected at baseline. The baseline data indicated high rates of overweight (14.4% overweight and 8.5% obese), insufficiently active (87.6%), and sedentary (63.7%). Furthermore, few adolescents regularly consumed fruits (18.8%) and vegetables/legumes (16.4%). Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention. At the end of the follow-up period, students in the intervention group had a 43% increased chance of regularly consuming beans (OR = 1.43, 95% CIs = 1.10–1.86) and a 35% decreased chance of regularly consuming soft drinks (OR = 0.65, 95% CIs = 0.50–0.84). No differences were found between the groups studied with regard to the anthropometric parameters. Despite these modest results, the implementation of a web intervention can be beneficial and help promote positive changes in adolescent eating habits.

Trial Registration

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials RBR-7qgnbn.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF A PROGRAMME PROMOTING ADEQUATE AND HEALTHY EATING ON ADOLESCENT HEALTH MARKERS: AN INTERVENTIONAL STUDY

AIM

to evaluate the effects of a protocol promoting adequate and healthy eating on adolescent health parameters.

METHODS

this controlled intervention study was conducted for 9 months, with the participation of adolescents enrolled in two schools (intervention/control) located in a poor neighbourhood in the city of Salvador (Bahia), Brazil. For the intervention school, activities promoting adequate and healthy eating were designed based on the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population (Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira). Students underwent biochemical, sexual maturation and anthropometric tests at baseline and at the end of the 9-month period. In addition, students answered a questionnaire on food consumption, physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Information on the socioeconomic status of their family was also obtained. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) analysis was chosen to evaluate the associations of interest.

RESULTS

students under intervention presented decreases of 7.64 mg/dL in mean total cholesterol (TC) (p = 0.009) and 7.77 mg/dL in mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) (p = 0.003) and increases of 18% in legume consumption (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.37) and 17% in vegetable consumption (OR = 1.17; 95%CI 1.01-1.35) compared with students who did not undergo intervention. No differences were observed in the anthropometric parameters analysed.

CONCLUSION

the results showed a positive effect of activities promoting adequate and healthy eating on reducing TC and LDLc and on increasing the consumption of vegetables and legumes, evidencing that the intervention model was able to prevent and/or treat cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents.