26 August 2020
Night shift work has been linked with rising obesity levels … and now there is new study underway to help fight the flab.
A team of experts in sleep, nutrition and physiology from Melbourne’s Monash University and the University of South Australia is calling on nurses, midwives and other shift workers to volunteer in a trial of weight loss interventions in night shift workers.
“We are aware that by doing shift work, employees change their sleeping and eating patterns, and some eating patterns may increase the risk of weight gain,’’ says Research Associate and dietitian Dr Michelle Rogers, PhD, from the University of SA.
“Typical weight loss strategies may not be as effective in shift workers owing to the hours they work and when they eat. The aim of this study is to find a weight loss strategy that is flexible to the demands of night shift and is better suited to different shift schedules. As almost 1 in 5 of Australians are shift workers this is an important area to investigate.
“We are aware research shows night shift workers eat at different times and at different patterns to traditional 9 to 5 workers and that also impacts on their metabolic health, such as blood pressure and lipid levels.’’
Dr Rogers’ team will be recruiting volunteers who currently work night shift as part of their roster to participate in one of three weight loss interventions. Participation in this study will not require any alterations to employees’ regular roster cycle.
“Volunteers will be required to visit our research facilities (Clinical Trials Facility, University of South Australia) on several occasions in their own time,’’ she said.
The trial is ongoing for “at least the next year” and it is hoped the results will be published in 2022.
Inquiries can be made to Dr Rogers on 8302 2507 or by visiting the website:
www.monash.edu/medicine/swiftstudy