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Enhanced preference for high-fat foods following a simulated night shift

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journal contribution
posted on 2016-03-22, 11:11 authored by Sean W. Cain, Ashleigh FiltnessAshleigh Filtness, Craig L. Phillips, Clare Anderson
Objectives Shift workers are prone to obesity and associated co-morbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Sleep restriction associated with shift work results in dramatic endocrine and metabolic effects that predispose shift workers to these adverse health consequences. While sleep restriction has been associated with increased caloric intake, food preference may also play a key role in weight gain associated with shift work. This study examined the impact of an overnight simulated night shift on food preference. Methods Sixteen participants [mean 20.1, standard deviation (SD) 1.4 years; 8 women] underwent a simulated night shift and control condition in a counterbalanced order. On the following morning, participants were provided an opportunity for breakfast that included high- and low-fat food options (mean 64.8% and 6.4% fat, respectively). Results Participants ate significantly more high-fat breakfast items after the simulated night shift than after the control condition [167.3 (SD 28.7) g versus 211.4 (SD 35.6) g; P=0.012]. The preference for high-fat food was apparent among the majority of individuals following the simulated night shift (81%), but not for the control condition (31%). Shift work and control conditions did not differ, however, in the total amount of food or calories consumed. Conclusions A simulated night shift leads to preference for high-fat food during a subsequent breakfast opportunity. These results suggest that food choice may contribute to weight-related chronic health problems commonly seen among night shift workers.

History

School

  • Design and Creative Arts

Department

  • Design

Published in

Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

Volume

41

Issue

3

Pages

288 - 293

Citation

CAIN, S.W. ...et al. 2015. Enhanced preference for high-fat foods following a simulated night shift. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 41(3), pp. 288-293.

Publisher

Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) © Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Publisher statement

This is an Open Access Article. It is published by Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH) under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Publication date

2015-05-01

ISSN

0355-3140

eISSN

1795-990X

Language

  • en