Research

Mixed

Intermittent fasting (5:2 protocol) is a viable weight loss strategy for night shift workers, with the hypothesis that aligning fasting days with night shifts (5:2N) may improve insulin resistance compared to continuous energy restriction.

If you work night shifts, try fasting for 2 days a week. You can choose which days to fast, so pick the days that include your night shifts. On those days, eat very little (about 2100-2500 kJ). On the other 5 days, eat normally but don't overeat to make up for the fast days. This approach might help manage your weight and blood sugar better than just cutting calories every day.

LimitedConditionalLOW confidence
We hypothesise that weight loss will be similar across the three strategies, and that the IF strategies will improve insulin resistance beyond that of CER.
Michelle Rogers et al. · BMJ Open · 2022

Why this rating

This is a study protocol; results are not yet available, so evidence is based on prior pilot studies and theoretical mechanisms.

Source

Study protocol for the Shifting Weight using Intermittent Fasting in night shift workers (SWIFt) study: a three-arm randomised controlled trial comparing three weight loss strategies in night shift workers with obesity

Michelle Rogers et al. · BMJ Open · 2022

DOI 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060520

rctCited 7×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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