Flourish - eMag - Feb 25 - Flipbook - Page 45
Shift work
and obesity
More than 15% of Australians engage in shift work, which increases
the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular risk factors such
as abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and fat
levels, and low levels of “good” (HDL) cholesterol are more prevalent
among shift workers.
Shift workers often experience fragmented and shortened daytime
sleep and disruption to their body clock. Such changes to the sleepwake cycle can increase energy intake, impair blood sugar regulation,
and damage blood vessels.
These effects are worsened when sleep restriction is combined
with irregular meal timing, such as eating at night when the body is
biologically programmed for sleep.
Interventions that alter meal timing or restrict the daily window
for food consumption have shown promise in improving glucose
metabolism and promoting weight loss.
Time-restricted eating, which involves limiting food
intake to a period of 8–10 hours during the day, may help prevent
cardio-metabolic diseases in individuals exposed to circadian and
sleep disruptions, such as shift workers.
