Cited by 426Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Work-Related FatigueSleep and related disorders

Social jetlag, obesity and metabolic disorder: investigation in a cohort study

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Parsons, M J, Moffitt, T E, Gregory, A M, Goldman-Mellor, S, Nolan, P M, Poulton, R, Caspi, A·2015·International Journal of Obesity

Abstract

Background Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. Circadian rhythms are known to control both sleep timing and energy homeostasis, and disruptions in circadian rhythms have been linked with metabolic dysfunction and obesity-associated disease. In previous research, social jetlag, a measure of chronic circadian disruption caused by the discrepancy between our internal versus social clocks, was associated with elevated self-reported body mass index, possibly indicative of a more generalized association with obesity and metabolic dysfunction.Methods We studied participants from the population-representative Dunedin Longitudinal Study (N=1037) to determine whether social jetlag was associated with clinically assessed measurements of metabolic phenotypes and disease indicators for obesity-related disease, specifically, indicators of inflammation and diabetes.Results Our analysis was restricted to N=815 non-shift workers in our cohort. Among these participants, we found that social jetlag was associated with numerous clinically assessed measures of metabolic dysfunction and obesity. We distinguished between obese individuals who were metabolically healthy versus unhealthy, and found higher social jetlag levels in metabolically unhealthy obese individuals. Among metabolically unhealthy obese individuals, social jetlag was additionally associated with elevated glycated hemoglobin and an indicator of inflammation.Conclusions The findings are consistent with the possibility that 'living against our internal clock' may contribute to metabolic dysfunction and its consequences. Further research aimed at understanding that the physiology and social features of social jetlag may inform obesity prevention and have ramifications for policies and practices that contribute to increased social jetlag, such as work schedules and daylight savings time.

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  • The greater the social jet lag, the greater the risk for obesity and diabetes.

    “Approximately 70% of the population have noticeable social jet lag (i.e., their biological and social clocks differ by more than 1 hour) (154), and the greater the social jet lag, the greater the risk for obesity and diabetes (154-156).”

    From Role of the circadian system in cardiovascular disease (2018) · cites this paper as [156]

  • Social jetlag has been linked to measures of adiposity, heart rate, and higher cortisol levels in healthy individuals, and to higher glycated hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

    “SJL has been linked to measures of adiposity (11,15,16), heart rate (16,17), and higher cortisol levels in healthy individuals (16) and to higher glycated hemoglobin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (18).”

    From Social jetlag, chronotype, and cardiometabolic risk (2015) · cites this paper as [15]

  • An association of social jetlag with the metabolic syndrome and elevated C-reactive protein eroded to nonsignificance when controlling for either socioeconomic status or cigarette smoking.

    “an association of SJL with the presence of the metabolic syndrome and with elevated levels of the inflammatory marker Creactive protein in one recent study eroded to nonsignificance when controlling for either socioeconomic status or cigarette smoking (15).”

    From Social jetlag, chronotype, and cardiometabolic risk (2015) · cites this paper as [15]

  • A recent review in children showed that three of five studies comprising overall 13 998 children and adolescents showed a significant reduction of obesity risk with increasing number of meals, which persisted after adjustment for confounders; two other studies found non-significant trends in the same direction.

    “A recent review in children showed that three of five studies comprising overall 13 998 children and adolescents showed a significant reduction of obesity risk with increasing number of meals, which persisted after adjustment for confounders; two other studies found non-significant trends in the same direction (61) .”

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Authors
Parsons, M. J., Moffitt, T. E., Gregory, A. M., Goldman-Mellor, S., Nolan, P. M., Poulton, R., & Caspi, A.
Affiliations
  • Medical Research Council (GB)
  • Duke University (US)
  • Goldsmiths University of London (GB)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
  • University of Otago (NZ)
Corresponding author
Parsons, M J
Venue
International Journal of Obesity
Published
2014-12-22
Volume
39
Issue
5
Pages
842-848
ISSN
  • 0307-0565 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5497
OpenAlex
W2120251269
Cited by
426
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 33 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 50 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 50 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 8 · 2012: 1
FWCI
8.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Obesity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Goldsmiths (University of London) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Medical Research Council (MR/K00381X/1)
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG048895, AG-032282, P30AG034424, R01AG032282)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (T32HD007376)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
Keywords
social jetlag, circadian rhythm disruption, obesity, metabolic dysfunction, metabolically healthy obesity, metabolically unhealthy obesity, inflammation, HbA1c, diabetes mellitus, sleep timing
MeSH terms
Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Metabolic Diseases, New Zealand, Obesity, Risk Factors, Sleep, Work Schedule Tolerance, Body Mass Index, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm

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