Quality of life and overweight in alternating shift workers

Abstract Objective: to identify the perception that alternating shift workers from a mining company in the region of Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil, have about their quality of life (QoL) and to analyse its association with indicators of excess body adiposity. Methods: cross-sectional study involving 437 alternating shift workers with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Sociodemographic and clinical data were analyzed. QoL was evaluated by the SF-36 questionnaire. Body adiposity was estimated through anthropometric and body composition measurements. Results: the scores for QoL domains ranged from 67 to 100, however, body fat increasing showed a negative correlation with general health, vitality and functional capacity domains. Through cluster analysis, the authors observed the formation of two groups, one comprising the QoL domains, and a second made up of body composition indicators. No association was found between the shift workers estimated QoL scores and their shift working lifetime. Conclusion: the QoL decline was associated with body adiposity excess. The recommendation is the adoption of measures aimed at reducing excess body adiposity and improving mining alternating shift workers‘ quality of life.