World's largest study into weight loss in shift workers
One and a half million Australians are in shift work roles and their lifestyle makes them at greater risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes when compared with day workers. Shift work interrupts normal eating and sleeping patterns and reduces exercise opportunities – a recipe for weight gain.
A world-first study at Monash University is recruiting shift-workers who are interested in losing weight. The study, which aims to recruits 420 people in Melbourne and Adelaide, follows on from a successful pilot study that studied weight loss and eating habits in a smaller group of shift workers.
The SWIFt Study (Shifting Weight in shift workers) is a collaboration between Monash University and the University of South Australia which will investigate novel weight loss regimes in night shift workers that combines energy restriction and meal timing.
According to Associate Professor Bonham, the experience of a typical shift-worker is not conducive to weight loss. “Shift workers tend to eat at all different times of the day and night, suffer disrupted sleep and do not always have access to healthy foods in the workplace,” she said.
It is not known how to effectively manage weight loss in shift workers because of the unique risk factors they face. The demands of their irregular schedule can also make adhering to weight loss programs difficult. Three strategies will be investigated, all of which have evidence for reducing weight in the general population who work day time hours. But, this is the first time they will be assessed for their effectiveness in night shift workers.
The study – which has been awarded a $1.43 million grant by the NHMRC – will compare three diet plans – continuous energy restriction with two novel intermittent fasting approaches.
Participants will need to be between 25 and 65 years, work at least four nights a fortnight regularly and be able to commit to 13 visits over 18 months to either Monash University or the University of South Australia.
According to Professor Bonham, the NHMRC funding for the SWIFt Study represents an important innovative dietary approach in the treatment of obesity and metabolic disease in shift workers as currently this significant proportion of the workforce are underserved in relation to the provision of nutrition and lifestyle advice.
In 2017 ICU nurse, Louise Vos, took part in a pilot study conducted by Associate Professor Bonham whereby she was asked to rearrange her eating habits to avoid eating overnight, for a window of five hours, whilst on night shift work. In that study Louise had to keep a food diary, wear an activity monitor and had regular blood pressure readings taken. Ms Vos has worked permanent night shift in the ICU for 12 years. She said that working nights – particularly in a hospital with limited healthy food options – can be difficult. “And when you get home you are often too tired to prepare a healthy meal or to exercise,” she added. She took part in the trial – looking at the re-timing of meals for shift workers, out of interest and because she has a degree in nutrition and wanted to learn more about how she could improve her lifestyle.
Those wanting to find out more about the trial should go to www.monash.edu/swiftstudy