The paper “Investigating the Risk of Obesity in European Night Shift Workers: A Study Protocol for Cross-Sectional and Mechanistic Studies in the SHIFT2HEALTH Project” by Katrin Scionti et al. has been published.
This publication outlines the research framework of the SHIFT2HEALTH Project, which aims to investigate why night shift workers are at an increased risk of overweight and obesity. The study combines cross-sectional and mechanistic research across five European countries, comparing 500 night shift workers with 500 day workers. Researchers will examine how biological, behavioural, and psychosocial factors—including metabolism, sleep, eating habits, circadian rhythms, and the gut microbiome—influence obesity risk. A nested mechanistic study will provide additional insights into the short-term effects of day and night shifts on biological markers and sleep patterns.
The findings will advance our understanding of the mechanisms linking night shift work and obesity, providing a foundation for future interventions and strategies to improve the health and well-being of shift workers across Europe.