About the project

Mission Statement

In the European Union, almost 18% of all employees (which is equivalent to almost 34 Mio employees) were working shifts in 2020. The numbers between countries differ considerably, with percentages ranging from 6% up to 40%. There is evidence that disruption of the circadian system caused by night-shift work results not only in a misalignment between the circadian system and the external light-dark cycle, but also in a state of internal desynchronization between various levels of the circadian system. Working rotating night shifts is associated with increased BMI and higher risk of becoming overweight and obese. Shift workers are also more likely to develop abdominal obesity and non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Unhealthy food choices (snacking, increased sugar intake, and preferences for spicy and sweet-fatty foods) combined with a decrease in consumption of vegetables and fruits were reported for this group, which are likely the main causes for becoming overweight and obese. The underlying mechanisms for these changed eating habits remain to be resolved.

Objectives & Approach

SHIFT2HEALTH funded under the EU HEALTH call “HORIZON-HLTH-2022-STAYHLTH-01-05: Prevention of Obesity Through the Life Course” is a collaborative effort of 14 European Partners in 7 European countries to gain new insights into behavioural and physiological underpinnings that make shift workers overweight and obese.

This project uses a multidisciplinary approach and aims to identify mechanisms and environmental and lifestyle factors leading to obesity in shift workers and to develop and evaluate products and strategies with consideration of the behavioural and relational level to support healthy eating patterns.

The project is building on eight interlinked work packages (WP) and will focus on both healthcare (female dominated) and industrial workers (male dominated), two major sectors where working in shifts is common. It will combine existing and new knowledge on nutritional, behavioural, perceptual and physiological determinants of (un)healthy food choices in a cross-section trial and consider personal needs and wishes. Based on the latter results, promising strategies, technical solutions and products will be developed and tested within the target group in specific interventions.

During all steps, stakeholders (health work organisations, shift workers` representatives, companies, policy makers and scientists) will be involved.

Consortium Partners Work Packages

Why Shift2Health matters

34 Mio
Shiftworkers

In the European Union almost 18% of all employees (which is equivalent to almost 34 Mio employees) were working shifts in 2020. The numbers between countries differ considerably with percentages ranging from 6% up to 40%.
Higher
Risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease

Working rotating night shifts is associated with increased BMI and higher risk of becoming overweight and obese. Shift worker are also more likely to develop abdominal obesity and non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
More
Unhealthy food choices

Unhealthy food choices (snacking, increased sugar intake, preferences for spicy and sweet-fatty foods) combined with a decrease in consumption of vegetables and fruits were reported for this group, which are likely the main causes for becoming overweight and obese. The underlying mechanisms for these changed eating habits remain to be resolved.