Beyond the Diet Impact of Night-Shift Work on Obesity Risk

Abstract

Background: In contemporary society, an increase in the demand for night-shift workers is anticipated. However, this mode of employment entails potential health hazards.

Aim: To demonstrate the correlation between night-shift work and obesity, with a particular emphasis on the link between sleep deprivation and obesity occurring among night-shift employees. Furthermore, this paper describes the mechanisms contributing to the emergence of these dependencies.

Methodology: A systematic review of scientific literature was conducted. A systematic search was carried out in PubMed,Google Scholar using keywords. The review examined various populations and age groups, focusing on night shift work, sleep deprevation, hormones and obesity.

Results: Night-shift work is positively correlated with an increased risk of high BMI, overweight, and obesity; specifically, the risk of developing central obesity is nearly three times higher compared to day-shift workers. Simultaneously, it has been observed that the specific nature of night work adversely affects sleep quality, rendering it shorter, less restorative, and overall poorer in quality. These physiological sleep disturbances lead to the dysregulation of the HPA axis, the orexin system, and the synchronization between central and peripheral clocks. Furthermore, they disrupt the secretion patterns of various hormones—including cortisol, growth hormone, and melatonin—which collectively impair the metabolic profile and drive the progression of obesity.

Conclusions: Poor sleep quality induced by night-shift work contributes to the development of obesity and disturbances in lipid profiles, HbA1c levels, and inflammatory markers among night-shift employees. The increased prevalence of obesity in this population is associated with a higher potential risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions. Emerging research on the modulation of light intensity during both working hours and subsequent sleep offers hope that the negative consequences of nocturnal labor can be mitigated. However, it is essential to expand research in this field to develop effective preventative strategies.