Nutra-ergonomics: influence of nutrition on physical employment standards and the health of workers

Women with Schizophrenia Have Difficulty Maintaining Healthy Diets for Themselves and Their Children: A Narrative Review

Severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia are inevitably linked to unemployment, meagre per capita income, and residence in disadvantaged, poorly resourced neighbourhoods. This means difficult access to healthy food and is particularly problematic for pregnant women and mothers with children to feed. The necessity of taking antipsychotic drugs is an additional barrier to healthy eating because these drugs are associated with serious cognitive, psychological, behavioural, and metabolic sequelae. Being ill with psychosis makes it extremely difficult to maintain a healthy diet; nutritional deficiencies result, as do medical complications. The results of present literature review confirm the gravity of the problem and suggest a number of potentially useful clinical interventions.

Occupational Health Applied Infodemiological Studies of Nutritional Diseases and Disorders: Scoping Review with Meta-Analysis

(1) Objective: to identify and review existing infodemiological studies on nutritional disorders applied to occupational health and to analyse the effect of the intervention on body mass index (BMI) or alternatively body weight (BW); (2) Methods: This study involved a critical analysis of articles retrieved from MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American, and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and Medicina en Español (MEDES) using the descriptors "Nutrition Disorders, "Occupational Health" and "Infodemiology", applying the filters "Humans" and "Adult: 19+ years". The search was conducted on 29 May 2021; (3) Results: a total of 357 references were identified from the bibliographic database searches; after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 11 valid studies were obtained for the review. Interventions could be categorised into (1) interventions related to lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary changes through education programmes, (2) interventions associated with lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary changes through the use of telemonitoring systems or self-help applications, (3) interventions tied to lifestyle, physical activity, and dietary changes through control and/or social network support groups, and (4) interventions linked to changes in the work environment, including behavioural change training and work environment training tasks. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the heterogeneity present when analysing the results for BMI was 72% (p < 0.01), which decreased to 0% (p = 0.57) when analysing the outcomes for weight, in which case the null hypothesis of homogeneity could be accepted. In all instances, the final summary of the effect was on the decreasing side for both BMI and BW; (4) Conclusions: Despite the high heterogeneity of the results reported, the trend shown in all cases indicates that the intervention methodologies implemented by empowering individuals through Web 2.0 technologies are positive in terms of the problem of overweight. Further implementation of novel strategies to support individuals is needed to overcome obesity, and, at least in the early studies, these strategies seem to be making the necessary change.

Improving healthy work culture measures using participatory ergonomic interventions

Objectives. The productivity outcomes from proper implementation of participatory ergonomic interventions in industrial developing countries (IDCs) are important to have management support. However, the role of awareness promotion in engaged groups of intervention has been overlooked. This article explains the health effects of some ergonomic interventions including nutrition awareness, training and workstation redesign on the labor productivity indices of an industry using participatory ergonomics. Methods. The study design was a semi-experimental study. After the field study, the proper model of participatory ergonomics was presented to implement the interventions. The International Labour Organization (ILO) checkpoint, quick exposure check (QEC) checklist and Nordic questionnaire were applied to assess ergonomic risk factors. Labor productivity was measured using some indicators of health and production. Statistical tests including paired-sample t tests were performed for data analysis using SPSS version 22.0. Results. The ergonomic interventions with a focus on awareness promotion resulted in positive outcomes (p < 0.05) including a decrease of blood pressure (equally 3.1%), improvement in optimum monthly performance of labors, better QEC number and also time saving of about 18.93% in doing tasks. Conclusion. Awareness promotion and productivity outcomes were found to be important in management commitment and support to persuade participatory ergonomic interventions.

Influence of Nutrition, Food and Diet-Related Interventions in the Workplace: A Meta-Analysis with Meta-Regression

OBJECTIVE

To review the scientific literature on the influence of verified nutrition, food and diet interventions on occupational health.

METHOD

This study involved a critical analysis of articles retrieved from MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and Medicina en Español (MEDES) using the descriptors "Diet, Food, and Nutrition" and "Occupational Health" and applying the filters "Clinical Trial", "Humans" and "Adult: 19+ years"; the search was conducted on 29 May 2021.

RESULTS

A total of 401 references were retrieved from the bibliographic databases, with an additional 16 identified through a secondary search; among the studies retrieved, 34 clinical trials were selected after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The interventions were grouped into seven categories: (1) dietary interventions associated with exercise or educational programs; (2) individual environmental interventions or other educational actions; (3) educational interventions oriented toward lifestyle, dietetics, physical activity and stress management; (4) economic incentives; (5) multicomponent interventions (combination of mindfulness, e-coaching and the addition of fruits and vegetables); or dietary interventions (facilitating greater food supply in cafeterias); or interventions focused on physical exercise.

CONCLUSIONS

Given that most people spend a large part of their time in the workplace and, therefore, eat at least one of their daily meals there, well-planned interventions-preferably including several strategies-have been demonstrated, in general, as useful for combating overweight and obesity. From the meta-regression study, it was observed that the interventions give better results in people who presented high Body Mass Index (BMI) values (obesity). In contrast, intervention 2 (interventions related to workplace environment) would not give the expected results (it would increase the BMI).

Relationships between work, lifestyles, and obesity: cross-sectional study based on the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey

AIMS

Overweight and obesity are affected by factors such as dietary transgressions and lack of exercise, as well as less obvious factors such as shift work and sedentary working. (i) To explore the associations between overweight and obesity (O/O) with working conditions such as type of job position, and work shifts; (ii) to know the associations between O/O with lifestyles (physical activity, eating habits, and tobacco and alcohol consumption).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cross-sectional, population-based design was used based on the Spanish National Health Survey. The final sample consisted of 9097 workers aged between 18 and 65. The influence of the explanatory variables on the outcome variable (body mass index) was examined using logistic regression. The prevalence of O/O increased by 4% for every additional year of age (P < 0.001) and was 3.1 times more frequent among men (P < 0.001). It also was 20% higher in night work or rotating shifts (P < 0.01), and 14.9% lower in sedentary job positions (P < 0.05). Low consumption of the following foods was significantly associated with a reduction in O/O: meat (16.2%), fish (75.4%), cured meats (35.1%), dairy products (33.3%), and snacks (47.1%).

CONCLUSION

Age, men, engaging in moderate or low levels of physical activity, being an ex-smoker, working during the night or rotating shifts, holding a non-sedentary job position, having a low to moderate consumption of pasta, potatoes, and rice, a moderate consumption of bread and cereals, as well as dairy products, vegetables, sugary foods, and fast food, have been significantly associated with a higher prevalence of O/O. No relationships were identified between the consumption of alcohol, fruit, eggs, pulses, and sugary soft drinks.

Impact of nutrition interventions and dietary nutrient density on productivity in the workplace

The global spread of diet-related noncommunicable diseases represents a threat to public health and national economies alike. The elimination of poverty and the eradication of hunger, two key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, cannot be accomplished without a well-nourished labor force. Easy access to low-cost diets that are energy dense but nutrient poor has resulted in hidden hunger, in which micronutrient deficiencies coexist with obesity or overweight. Workplace interventions in low- and middle-income countries have addressed nutrient adequacy and micronutrient deficiencies, often using fortified foods. Workplace interventions in high-income countries have largely focused on weight loss, smoking cessation, stress reduction, and physical activity. Even though improvement of productivity may have been the ultimate goal, relatively few interventions in high-income countries have explored the likely impact of improved dietary nutrient density on workplace performance. Given that optimal nutrition benefits both physical and mental health, interventions to improve diet quality ought to have a measurable impact on the productivity of the labor force. The present review examines the evidence linking workplace dietary interventions with workplace productivity measures.

Custodio MR. Food Sources and Nutrient Intakes of Filipino Working Adults

Nutrition is an integral part of economic development, since it influences workers' healthand productivity. This study evaluated the usual nutrient intakes and food sources of workingadults. We conducted a cross-sectional survey that involved 1264 selected working adults aged 19to 59 years old from randomly selected job sectors. Quantitative dietary data was collected by a 2-day, non-consecutive 24 h recall, while a dietary diversity questionnaire was used to assess the typesand frequency of foods consumed. Physical activity was measured using the World HealthOrganization global physical assessment questionnaire. The prevalence of inadequate intakes,defined as the percentage of adults with intakes less than the estimated average requirements (EAR)or acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges (AMDR) were estimated using the PC-Softwarefor Intake Distribution Estimation (PC-SIDE) program. The mean daily energy intake of workingadults was 1768 kcal/day or 74% of the Estimated Energy Requirements (EER) for this age group.The percentage contribution to the total energy of fats (58%) and proteins (34%) were excessivelyhigh. Consumption of fruits and vegetables was only 30% and 40% of the recommended nutrientintake, respectively. Salt intake was 52% above the adequate intake. Nutrient inadequacy was highin almost all nutrients, including iron (99%), folate (97.9%), riboflavin (95.8%), calcium (94.7%),vitamin C (87.3%), and thiamin (76.6%). The top five food sources of energy included rice (35.6%),pork (15.1%), fats and oils (4.7%), chicken (4.4%), and bread (3.8%). Energy and nutrient intakes ofworking adults is extremely sub-optimal due to the consumption of few nutrient-dense foods. Thismay pose a triple burden of malnutrition if left unsolved.

Hubungan Kecukupan Asupan Energi dan Status Gizi dengan Tingkat Kelelahan Kerja Pekerja Bagian Produksi (Studi di PT. Multi Aneka Pangan Nusantara Surabaya)

Introduction: Work Fatigue is the common condition experienced by most worker but if this condition occured continously, it will affect of the worker’s health condition. Work fatigue can be affected by several factors, some of which are energy intake and nutritional status. Objective: The aim of this research was to analyze the correlation between the adequacy of energy intake and nutritional status with the level of work fatigue. Methods: This study was an analytic observational, used cross sectional study with 33 sample from 48 workers of cocoa powder production PT. Multi Aneka Pangan Nusantara Surabaya selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected by food recall 2X24 hours for energy intake, measuring weight and height for nutritional stastus and Industrial Fatigue Research Committee (IFRC) questionnaire for the level of fatigue. Data were analyzed by ranks spearman correlation test. Results: Most of workers were <25 years old (42.4%), the adequacy of energy intake were deficit (66.7%), the nutritional status were normal (54.5%), and the work fatigue were moderate (63.6%). The result of this research showed that there were corellation between the adequacy of energy intake (p-value=0.001) and nutritional status (p-value=0.018) with the level of work fatigue. Conclussion: In conclusion, lower energy intake and high BMI would increase the level of fatigue.ABSTRAKPendahuluan: Kelelahan kerja menjadi keadaan umum yang dialami hampir semua tenaga kerja, namun jika hal ini terjadi secara terus menerus dapat mempengaruhi kondisi kesehatan pekerja. Kelelahan kerja dapat dipengaruhi oleh berbagai faktor, beberapa diantaranya yaitu asupan energi dan status gizi pekerja.Tujuan: Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisis hubungan kecukupan asupan energi dan status gizi dengan tingkat kelelahan kerja pekerja.Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian observasional analitik menggunakan desain cross sectional dengan sampel sebesar 33 pekerja dari 48 pekerja bagian produksi cocoa powder PT. Multi Aneka Pangan Nusantara Surabaya yang dipilih menggunakan metode simple random sampling. Pengumpulan data menggunakan food recall 2X24 hours untuk asupan energi, pengukuran berat badan dan tinggi badan untuk status gizi, serta kuesioner Industrial Fatigue Research Committee (IFRC) untuk tingkat kelelahan kerja. Analisis data menggunakan uji statistik ranks spearman. Hasil: Sebagian pekerja besar responden berusia <25 tahun (42,4%), kecukupan asupan energi yang tergolong kurang (66,7%), status gizi normal (54,5%), dan tingkat kelelahan kerja yang tergolong sedang (63,6%). Terdapat hubungan antara kecukupan asupan energi (p=0,001) dan status gizi (p=0,018) dengan tingkat kelelahan kerja pekerja.Kesimpulan:. Semakin kurang asupan energi dan semakin tinggi IMT maka akan semakin tinggi tingkat kelelahan kerja pada pekerja.

Towards best practice in physical and physiological employment standards

While the scope of the term physical employment standards is wide, the principal focus of this paper is on standards related to physiological evaluation of readiness for work. Common applications of such employment standards for work are in public safety and emergency response occupations (e.g., police, firefighting, military), and there is an ever-present need to maximize the scientific quality of this research. Historically, most of these occupations are male-dominated, which leads to potential sex bias during physical demands analysis and determining performance thresholds. It is often assumed that older workers advance to positions with lower physical demand. However, this is not always true, which raises concerns about the long-term maintenance of physiological readiness. Traditionally, little attention has been paid to the inevitable margin of uncertainty that exists around cut-scores. Establishing confidence intervals around the cut-score can reduce for this uncertainty. It may also be necessary to consider the effects of practise and biological variability on test scores. Most tests of readiness for work are conducted under near perfect conditions, while many emergency responses take place under far more demanding and unpredictable conditions. The potential impact of protective clothing, respiratory protection, load carriage, environmental conditions, nutrition, fatigue, sensory deprivation, and stress should also be considered when evaluating readiness for work. In this paper, we seek to establish uniformity in terminology in this field, identify key areas of concern, provide recommendations to improve both scientific and professional practice, and identify priorities for future research.