Stories

Almost 18% of all employees in the European Union, which is equivalent to 34 million people, were working shifts in 2020. Shift workers working rotating night shifts have a higher risk of developing overweight and obesity. Their misaligned and ever-changing sleep/wake cycle and feeding rhythms may lead to unhealthy food choices (i.e. snacking, increased sugar intake, preferences for spicy and sweet-fatty foods) and is often combined with a decrease in consumption of vegetables and fruits. So how can obesity risk be prevented and reduced to improve shift workers' wellbeing and quality of life? This is exactly what scientists from the 5-year research and innovation project SHIFT2HEALTH aim to find out. Since June 2023, the researchers have set up different studies to better understand the lifestyle of shift workers by investigating behavioural determinants, needs and expectations. The researchers implemented an online survey with more than 6,400 participants from eight European countries (Denmark, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Greece). Currently 20 focus group discussions and a large multicentre cross-sectional study with 1,000 participants from 5 European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, and Poland) are carried out. At the same time pre-obesity biomarkers & biological pathways will be analysed in 1,000 shift workers from these 5 European countries in an in vitro 3D human intestinal model in Belgium and Austria. The next step in the SHIFT2HEALTH project is to develop interventions and products aiming to support behavioural changes of shift workers. Follow us for more information! https://shift2health.eu/ This project is funded by the European Union under @HorizonEU research and innovation program.

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