THE ESSENTIAL
- Night work poses many health risks.
- Employees who work at night are more likely to suffer from diabetes, overweight or cardiovascular diseases.
- A study observed that eating earlier in the day instead of snacking or eating late at night could prevent the risk of diabetes among night shift workers.
In 2019, nearly 3.5 million employees worked night shifts, according to the Ministry of Labor. Sleep disorders, cardiovascular and chronic diseases… According to various studies, night work has harmful effects on health. In a recent study, Australian researchers observed that eating a snack or meal during the night could increase the risk of chronic conditions, particularly diabetes, among these workers.
Can blood sugar be influenced by the timing of a meal or snack?
As part of the research, scientists from the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) conducted a six-day trial involving 55 adults including body mass index was healthy and who were not night shift workers.
During their stay at the University of South Australia’s Behavior, Brain and Sleep Research Centre, the volunteers were divided into three groups: those who fasted overnight, those who ate snacks and those who consumed full meals.
Participants stayed awake for four nights and slept during the day. They were given a recovery day on the fifth day to restore normal sleep and eating cycles. During the sixth day, blood sugar tests were performed.
Night work: eating earlier could limit the risks of diabetes
According to the results published in the journal Diabetologysubjects who ate a meal or snacks during the night had poorer glucose tolerance than the control group. “We found that blood sugar levels spiked in those who ate full meals at night and those who snacked, while those who fasted at night had an increase in insulin secretion that maintained blood sugar balance”explained Professor Leonie Heilbronn, co-author of the study and clinical researcher at the University of Adelaide’s Faculty of Medicine.
Night shift workers are more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease and be overweight. As the researchers pointed out, meal times could therefore have an influence on the appearance of chronic diseases. Eating earlier in the day and avoiding snacking or eating meals late in the evening could be a simple intervention to implement to prevent these risks among employees working at night.
Health
