Feasibility of Time‑Restricted Eating and Impacts on Cardiometabolic Health in Firefighters on 24‑h Shifts
Summary
This randomized controlled trial tested whether a 10-hour time-restricted eating (TRE) schedule was realistic and beneficial for 137 firefighters working 24-hour shifts. Over 12 weeks, the TRE group successfully reduced their eating window from about 14 hours to 11 hours without adverse effects. Compared with standard care, TRE improved quality of life scores and reduced very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle size. Among firefighters who started with elevated health risks, TRE also lowered HbA1c and diastolic blood pressure. The results show that TRE is both feasible and helpful in improving certain markers of metabolic health for people in demanding shift-based jobs.
Why It Matters For Night Shift Workers and Night Owls
For workers on long or unpredictable schedules, strict diets can be difficult to follow. This study shows that a simple change—eating within a 10-hour window—can fit into even 24-hour shift routines. It didn’t require calorie counting or food restrictions, yet it improved quality of life and lowered some markers of metabolic risk. For night-shift workers more broadly, it suggests that when you eat can be just as important as what you eat for supporting long-term health.
Notes
PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36198291/