Research
Mixed
Shift work and night work are associated with increased risks of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, primarily driven by circadian desynchronization, sleep deprivation, and behavioral changes.
If you work shifts, prioritize sleep duration (aim for 7+ hours), use bright light exposure during night shifts, and consider melatonin to help synchronize your circadian rhythm. Be mindful of diet and physical activity, as these behaviors can be altered by shift work.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
evidence suggests that it may affect the metabolic balance and cause obesity and other metabolic disorders. Sleep deprivation, circadian desynchronization and behavioral changes in diet and physical activity are among the most commonly mentioned factors in studies of the association between night work and metabolic disorders.
Why this rating
Based on multiple large cohort studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses cited in the review.
Source
Shift work and its association with metabolic disorders
Maria Carlota Borba Brum et al. · Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome · 2015
DOI 10.1186/s13098-015-0041-4
narrative_reviewCited 169×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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