Relationship between Sleep and Hedonic Appetite in Shift Workers

Abstract

Short and/or poor sleep are established behavioral factors which can contribute to excess food intake, and emerging evidence suggests that disturbed circadian rhythms may also impact food intake regulation. Together, disturbed sleep and circadian rhythms may help explain the excess risk for obesity seen in shift workers. To date, however, the details of how shift work may impact food intake regulation are still not fully defined. Here we examined the relationship between sleep characteristics and hedonic control of appetite in shift workers. A total of 63 shift workers (mean (M) age: 36.7 years, standard deviation (SD): 12.0; 59% women) completed an online survey comprising self-reported measures of body weight regulation, sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Sleep Hygiene Index), and hedonic control of appetite (Food Craving Inventory, Power of Food Scale). Seventy-one percent reported some weight change since starting shift work, and 84% of those reported weight gain (M = +11.3 kg, SD = 9.1). Worse sleep quality and shorter sleep duration were associated with more food cravings, and worse sleep quality and hygiene were associated with higher appetitive drive to consume palatable food (greater hedonic drive). This preliminary study suggests hedonic pathways are potentially contributing to weight gain in shift workers with disturbed sleep.

Shiftwork Is Associated with Higher Food Insecurity in U.S. Workers: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study (NHANES)

“…Our results warrant a thorough discussion in the context of previous studies. Shift working has been associated with abnormal eating patterns [ 53 ], consumption of foods at more unconventional times [ 14 ], and a higher frequency of food cravings [ 54 ]. As such, it is not inconceivable that shiftwork increases frequency of eating meals prepared away from home.…”

Sleep quality and perceived stress as related to hedonic hunger among university students: A cross-sectional study

“…Total PSQI global score (0-21) and seven sleep components scores (0-3) were used to express sleeping behavior as continuous variables. Additionally, HH scales were analyzed as continuous variables; subscales scores (1-5) and total PEMS score (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). The PSS was analyzed as a continuous variable (0-40) and as a categorical variable; low stress (0-13), moderate stress (14-26), and high perceived stress (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40) to classify the stress level of the students.…”

“…The Arabic version's validity and reliability had previously been identi ed by Suleiman and colleagues [19]. The PSQI is a 19-item questionnaire that consists of 7 subjective sleep quality components; sleep latency (the time it takes to fall asleep), sleep period (actual time spent sleeping), sleep e ciency (percentage of time spent sleeping in bed), sleep disturbances, use of sleep drugs, and daytime dysfunction are all factors that affect sleep quality [18,20]. Participants were asked to rate each object on a scale of 0 to 3, with 0 connoting the best and 3 connoting the worst [18].…”

The Effects of Shift Work on Cardio-Metabolic Diseases and Eating Patterns

“…Yet another avenue could be the central regulation of eating behavior, whereby appetite-regulating hormones could control the hedonic pathways and thus play a role in the changes of eating patterns and in turn the metabolic effects of shift work [27,61,64,77]. However, these aspects are beyond the scope of this review.…”