Publications

Nutrition health literacy and shift work in Austria: preliminary results from the Shift2Health study

A new paper published in the European Journal of Public Health.

Shift work is associated with adverse health outcomes and creates structural barriers to healthy dietary behaviors. Nutrition health literacy (NHL) may support decision-making under such conditions. This study examined NHL levels in an Austrian working population by shift work status and associations with anthropometric outcomes.

Investigating Overweight and Obesity Risk in Shift Workers Using Omics Technologies

A new paper by Katrin Scionti, Ivana Václavková, Vanessa Schoissengeier, Karl-Heinz Wagner has been published in Obesity Reviews.

Night shift work disrupts circadian rhythms, raising obesity risk through impaired insulin sensitivity, fat accumulation and inflammation. This review examines how omics technologies can reveal these mechanisms in night shift workers and support personalised interventions, while noting that most evidence still comes from animal models.

Results from the SHIFT2HEALTH survey across eight European countries

This study characterized shift work patterns across Europe using a data-driven approach and examined their associations with adverse sleep outcomes. By capturing real-world work schedules, this approach provides a more comprehensive assessment of the relationship between shift work patterns and sleep.

New OBEClust paper published in Obesity Reviews

A new publication introduces OBEClust, a pan-European initiative bringing together researchers, policymakers, and public health stakeholders to strengthen obesity prevention across Europe. By harmonizing research methods, data infrastructures, and evaluation approaches, OBEClust aims to improve collaboration between countries and bridge the gap between scientific evidence and policy action. The initiative provides a shared framework to support the development and implementation of effective and equitable obesity prevention strategies across Europe.

Study Protocol for Cross-Sectional and Mechanistic Studies in the project

A new paper by Katrin Scionti et al. has been published in Obesity Facts, presenting the research framework of the SHIFT2HEALTH cross-sectional and mechanistic studies.

The project investigates why night shift workers are at increased risk of overweight and obesity. Across five European countries, 500 night shift workers and 500 day workers are compared to examine biological, behavioural, and psychosocial factors, including metabolism, sleep, eating habits, circadian rhythms, and the gut microbiome. A nested mechanistic study further explores the short-term effects of day and night shifts. The findings will improve our understanding of the link between night shift work and obesity and support the development of future strategies to improve shift workers’ health.

The case for primary prevention of obesity in the era of GLP-1 therapies

A new position paper published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe calls for renewed and sustained investment in obesity prevention, warning that advances in pharmacological treatments must not divert attention from the root causes of the epidemic.

Endorsed by a pan-European team of over 700 researchers within the OBEClust initiative, the paper argues that while GLP-1 receptor agonists (such as Wegovy and Ozempic) represent a major breakthrough in obesity treatment, they cannot address the structural drivers underpinning rising obesity rates.

Online survey: Night shift work and dietary behaviors

A new study published in the Nutrition Journal (April 2026) examines dietary differences between European night shift and day workers using data from the SHIFT2HEALTH online survey.

The findings indicate that night shift work is linked to distinct and often less healthy eating patterns. Based on data from over 6000 participants across eight countries, night shift workers were more likely to consume sugary and caffeinated beverages, eat more quickly, and report lower fruit intake than day workers. With dietary choices shaped by shift schedules, time constraints, and food availability, the study underscores the need for tailored nutritional strategies to support shift workers’ health across Europe.

OBEClust: joining forces to prevent obesity

A new publication in Nature Reviews Endocrinology (November 2025) highlights the OBEClust network – a pan-European initiative linking nine EU-funded projects focused on obesity prevention.

A new viewpoint article in Nature Reviews Endocrinology (November 2025) presents OBEClust, the European Cluster of Obesity Research Projects. OBEClust unites experts from across Europe to strengthen collaboration between nine EU-funded research initiatives working on different aspects of obesity, with a strong emphasis on prevention.

SHIFT2HEALTH is one of the projects connected through OBEClust and contributes its expertise on nutrition, shift work and metabolic health.