The effects of shift work on body weight change − a systematic review of longitudinal studies
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OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to summarize the available evidence to elucidate the effects of shift work, which includes night work, on body weight change. METHODS: A systematic search strategy using longitudinal studies was performed. Articles were included based on strict inclusion criteria; methodological quality was assessed by a standardized quality checklist. The results were summarized using a levels of evidence synthesis. RESULTS: The search strategy resulted in eight articles that met the inclusion criteria. Five of them were considered to be high- and three of them low-quality studies. Seven studies presented crude results for an association between shift work exposure and change in body weight: five high- and two low-quality studies. There was strong evidence for a crude relationship between shift work and body weight increase. Five studies presented weight-related outcomes adjusted for potentially relevant confounders (age, gender, bodyweight at baseline, and physical activity). Two studies found a significant difference between groups in the same direction. Consequently, the evidence for a confounders-adjusted relationship between shift work exposure and body weight was considered to be insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Strong evidence for a crude association between shift work exposure and body weight increase was found. In order to further clarify the underlying mechanisms, more and better high quality studies about this subject are necessary.
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Animal studies have indicated that the increased weight gain observed within the shift work population is caused, at least partly, by eating during the 'wrong' time of day.
“Animal studies have indicated that the increased weight gain observed within the shift work population is caused, at least partly, by eating during the 'wrong' time of day (6,48) .”
From Meal irregularity and cardiometabolic consequences: results from observational and intervention studies (2016) · cites this paper as [48]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- van Drongelen, A., Boot, C., Merkus, S., Smid, T., & Beek, A. J.
- Affiliations
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- Venue
- Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
- Published
- 2011-01-18
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 263-275
- ISSN
- 0355-3140 (ISSN-L)
- 1795-990X
- OpenAlex
- W2094940755
- Cited by
- 197
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 1.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Scandinavian Journal of Work Environment & Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Keywords
- shift work, night work, weight change, weight gain, obesity, occupational health, confounding factors, physical activity
- MeSH terms
- Body Weight, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Work Schedule Tolerance, Cohort Studies
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